This week, CPPI’s Executive Director attended the ICANN Meeting in Montreal, Canada. ICANN stands for the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and they are the governing body for the Internet.
This meeting was important as Big Pharma and their front groups use “shadow regulation” and the spread of misinformation to restrict Internet access to safe and affordable medicines through personal prescription importation.
Shadow regulations, as defined by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), are the voluntary agreements between companies (sometimes described as codes, principles, standards, or guidelines) to regulate your use of the Internet, often without your knowledge.
CPPI, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Roger Bate, and others have been calling out these mounting issues intended to restrict access to medications for years.
Previously, CPPI published this article on protecting human rights as it intersects with digital technology while opposing those who use the Internet to restrict access to safe and affordable medications.
These conspiratorial activities represent a colossal disservice to millions of patients seeking to access safe, affordable medicines.
The Internet community and ICANN members have a strong interest in ensuring that principles of freedom of speech are adhered to and any censorship activities, particularly those driven by corporate interests and profits, are identified and quickly banned.
It is critical that we continue to bring dubious practices intended to mislead consumers with misinformation out of the shadows and into the light.
For specifics on alleged shadow regulation tactics employed by Big Pharma front groups intended to impede safe and affordable importation, please review the recent PharmacyChecker.com lawsuit complaint of conspiracy.