Afilias has recently announced that it is the first European company to gain  observer status with the Global Network Initiative (GNI) .

You can read the press release after the jump :

“Afilias Limited, an Ireland-based global provider of registry services for top-level Internet domains, today announced that it is the first European company to gain observer status with the Global Network Initiative (GNI). The GNI is a multi-stakeholder initiative comprised of companies and other stakeholders in the global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry that are committed to protecting and advancing online freedom of expression and privacy.

“We are delighted to join the Global Network Initiative as an observer member,” said Desiree Miloshevic, Senior Public Policy and International Affairs Advisor at Afilias. “At Afilias, we believe that GNI’s goals and principles, such as multi-stakeholder collaboration, freedom of expression and privacy, are integral to maintaining an open Internet ecosystem.”

Afilias is the second company to gain observer status with GNI, following Facebook who became an observer earlier this month. The observer status lasts for one non-renewable twelve-month term. Observers participate in dedicated policy and learning sessions organized by GNI, and engage with current GNI participants and staff.

“Gaining a European company with a global footprint and extensive expertise on the technical side of Internet governance as an observer of GNI is another important step in increasing the international reach of GNI, which is critically important as we work to develop a corporate standard on free expression and privacy,” said GNI Executive Director Susan Morgan.

GNI Independent Chair Jermyn Brooks added, “GNI has grown substantially in the past year, adding new members and completing the first independent assessments of its founding companies, and the addition of Afilias as an observer builds on this success. We hope to see more international companies engage with GNI in the near future.”