Brazilian Congress Approves Pioneering Bill of Rights for Internet Users · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Marco Civil has finally been approved in the lower house of Brazil's Congress and next should be voted in Senate. The bill of rights for Internet users became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter, following a large-scale campaign that was promoted during the day of the vote, March 25, 2014, under the hashtags #MarcoCivil and #EuQueroMarcoCivil (I want Marco Civil).
The current version [pdf] of the bill preserves the provisions of net neutrality, freedom of expression and users privacy.
Former Minister of Culture, and famous musician, Gilberto Gil, who gave a face to Avaaz's petition “For a free and democratic Internet“, tweeted:
Vencemos! O #MarcoCivil foi aprovado!! Por uma rede neutralizada,liberdade de expressão e proteção à privacidade!
— Gilberto Gil (@gilbertogil) March 26, 2014
We won! #MarcoCivil approved!! For a neutral web, freedom of expression and protection of privacy!
For Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web 25 years ago, this is “the best possible birthday gift for Brazilian and global Web users”. In a statement of support released on the eve of the vote he said the approval of Marco Civil “will help to usher in a new era – one where citizens’ rights in every country around the world are protected by digital bills of rights”:
Like the Web, Marco Civil has been built by its users – the groundbreaking, inclusive and participatory process has resulted in a policy that balances the rights and responsibilities of the individuals, governments and corporations who use the Internet. (…)  ultimately the draft Bill reflects the Internet as it should be: an open, neutral and decentralized network, in which users are the engine for collaboration and innovation.