A UK-based online civil liberties group has called on governments to protect the freedom of people using the Internet.

Publishing a statement marking the fifth anniversary of the creation of Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK) the group has called on governments to "respect fundamental human rights" and "encourage rather than limit the peoples' usage of the Internet through excessive regulation".

And it warns lawmakers that unless they preserve basic freedoms for online activity, the Internet could end up becoming the "most regulated medium in history".

To read Cyber-Rights' statement go here. ®