President Takes to Reddit to Endorse Internet Freedom

Says it will be part of Democratic platform

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/29/2012 6:26:35 PM

President Obama put in his own plug for Internet freedom Wednesday, a day after there was a Republican plank on the topic, and said it would be in the Democratic platform.

In some real-time, online conversing on forum Reddit, the president said he knew Internet freedom was something the site's users "care passionately about."

"I do too," said President Obama. "We will fight hard to make sure that the internet remains the open forum for everybody - from those who are expressing an idea to those to want to start a business. And although there will be occasional disagreements on the details of various legislative proposals, I won't stray from that principle - and it will be reflected in the platform."

The Republican platform committed to Internet freedom too, defining it as removing regulatory barriers to Internet innovation and industry-led guidelines on privacy and data use. It also suggested the Obama-backed FCC network neutrality rules were not the way to go.

"We're thrilled that the president is paying attention to our efforts. These lofty goals are admirable, and we absolutely share them," said David Segal, executive director of Demand Progress. "But it's critical that the Dems make sure that the platform language -- and their actions in office -- live up to this rhetoric."