The Blue Ribbon Campaign was organized by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) in the interest of protecting the rights of bloggers on the Internet. The foundation is a donor-funded non-profit organization that was started in 1990 to protect free speech, privacy, and consumer rights on the Internet. The EFF's activities include public education, political activism, and extensive litigation.
Supporters of the Blue Ribbon Campaign believe that bloggers have the right to blog anonymously if they choose. They should be able to blog about their views on political elections or workplace activities without fear of persecution. According to the Blue Ribbon Campaign, the freedom of expression is a vital part of life in a democratic society.
Since blogging is a communication method that encourages interaction, supporters of the blue ribbon campaign believe that bloggers must be protected from liability for third-party comments left on their blogs. The EFF feels that the federal immunity for online publishers must apply to bloggers as well.
While fair use of intellectual property is an important issue for all forms of media, it is arguably especially relevant for bloggers. Since bloggers are often strong activists for controversial causes, the Blue Ribbon Campaign asserts that they have the right to be protected from frivolous threats and lawsuits.
According to the Blue Ribbon Campaign, bloggers have the same rights as members of the mainstream press. They should be able to attend press conferences and other media events. In addition, they should be able to protect confidential sources. The Blue Ribbon Campaign believes that bloggers, even if they aren’t being paid for their writing activities, are essentially acting as citizen journalists.
Supporters of the Blue Ribbon Campaign often display a blue ribbon graphic on their site, as a way to express their commitment to free speech online. As a non-profit organization, the EFF relies heavily on the support of private individuals who are committed to protecting free speech on the Internet. In fact, over 60% of the money used to fund the Blue Ribbon Campaign and other EFF activities comes from donations and membership fees.
