Microsoft and Google back Web charter to prevent 'digital dystopia'

Tech giants among 160 organisations supporting contract for a better web set out by Sir Tim Berners-Lee

Microsoft and Google are among the supporters of a global charter aimed at making the web a force for good.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web 30 years ago, launched the Contract for the Web action plan, which is a set of standards that governments, organisations and individuals should abide by in order to prevent misuse of the platform and ensure it is free, safe and open to all.

The contract sets out nine principles for signatories to follow, including protecting an individual's "fundamental" online privacy, making the web affordable and accessible to everyone, and developing technologies that support the best in humanity rather than the worst.

Facebook, online social forum Reddit and Twitter are among some of the 160 companies backing the charter, while online behemoth Amazon is notably absent from the list of supporters. The German, French and Ghanaian governments have also signed up to it.

"The power of the web to transform people's lives, enrich society and reduce inequality is one of the defining opportunities of our time," stated Berners-Lee (pictured) at the plan's unveiling in Berlin.

"But if we don't act now, and act together, to prevent the web being misused by those who want to exploit, divide and undermine, we are at risk of squandering that potential."

The charter is a product of the World Wide Web Foundation, which was founded by Berners-Lee in 2009 to advance the open web as a force for good.

"The Contract for the Web gives us a roadmap to build a better web. But it will not happen unless we all commit to the challenge," he added.

"Governments need to strengthen laws and regulations for the digital age. Companies must do more to ensure the pursuit of profit is not at the expense of human rights and democracy.

"And citizens must hold those in power accountable, demand their digital rights be respected and help foster healthy conversation online. It's up to all of us to fight for the web we want."