Last week we hosted a conference with the Global Network Initiative (GNI), where we had a heated debate around surveillance, security, and freedom of expression. Check out the conversation here.
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Dynamics of digital freedom
On 20 June, we hosted a conference with the Global Network Initiative (GNI), where we explored issues of surveillance, security, and freedom of expression. The two panels were heated, and brought up interesting questions around how our data is used. Check out the conversation below:
Storified by Index on Censorship · Thu, Jun 28 2012 03:55:40
Panel One – Who controls access to our communications?
Chaired by Kirsty Hughes, with Richard Allan (Director of Policy EMEA, Facebook), Stephen Deadman (Group Privacy Officer and Head of Legal, Vodafone), and Douwe Korff (Professor of International Law, London Met University).
The panel debated the roles, responsibilities and relationships between users, governments and companies in the context of the communications bill in the UK.
RT @IndexCensorship: just kicking off @theGNI / Index panel on the dynamics of #digitalfreedom with Facebook, Vodafone and Douwe KorffGNI
Stephen deadman from Vodafone at Index on Censorship panel event: industrial scale surveillance is a fact of life for wireless carriersChristopher Soghoian
Agree w Allen: current sitn is wrong where internet companies must choose btwn protecting user data or fighting natl law. #digitalfreedomHeather Brooke
#digitalfreedom Douwe Korff – comms data bill will digitally tag you like an electronic tag for criminalsIndex on Censorship
Richard Allan from FB: If you’re big part of media space, governments won’t leave you alone #digitalfreedomSara Yasin
Tough questions from @csoghoian: how many requests for info & location do Vodafone & FB get? Neither company transparent. #digitalfreedomNatasha Schmidt
Richard Allen from Facebook: most human rights abusing countries dont submit user data requests, they just intercept data on the wire.Christopher Soghoian
Vodaphone says they get no info to assess legitimacy of govt requests for surveillance. They get a form. They must comply. #digitalfreedomHeather Brooke
FB/Vodafone replies regarding surveillance transparency focus on why they are not transparent, not how they could be. #digitalfreedomJoss Wright
RT@IndexCensorship #digitalfreedom- Deadman talking;)for a telco [he`s vodaphone] surveillance on industrial scale is condition of entryrobert madelin
It’s the advanced countries that are leading the way in surveillance says Vodafone’s Deadmen. #digitalfreedomHeather Brooke
final Q in #digitalfreedom panel. How concerned should we be about the comms data bill. Facebook’s Richard Allen. "out of 10? 11"!Index on Censorship
After the panel, we asked Richard Allan from Facebook a few more questions:
Index interview with Richard Allan (Director of Policy EMEA, Facebook)indexoncensorshiptv
Panel two – Exporting surveillance and censorship: is regulation an answer?
Chaired by Heather Brooke (author and campaigner), with Ian Brown (Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Internet Institute), Eric King (Head of Research, Privacy International) and Tom Smith (Head of the Export Control Organisation, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills).
The focus of the discussion for this panel was the export and use of technologies by repressive regimes in the last two years, and whether an extended export control regime could be workable without restricting access to technology.
RT @newsbrooke: I’ll be chairing the next session #digitalfreedom: Exporting surveillance & censorship. w @e3i5 @guppiefish & UK Govt head of export controlCarolina Pacheco
.@guppiefish Dr Ian Brown (Oxford Uni Cyber Security) publishes rpt recommending new export controls on surveillance tech #digitalfreedomIndex on Censorship
#digitalfreedom @e3i5 says surveillance companies aren’t just amorally shipping software. They actively consult and maintain the tech.English PEN
Wow. US Communications and Enforcement Act mandated ‘back doors’ in mobile phone tech… used by Iran in 2009 #digitalfreedomEnglish PEN
Yahoo! asks: what of the 2nd hand market for surveillance exports? #digitalfreedomNatasha Schmidt
@e3i5: not really 2nd hand market for surveillance equipment. Well. That’s a relief. Isn’t it? #digitalfreedomNatasha Schmidt
RT @englishpen: #digitalfreedom @e3i5 says surveillance firms aren’t amorally shipping sftware. They actively consult and maintain the tech.pencanada
After the panel, we caught up with Eric King, Head of Research for Privacy International:
Index interview with Eric King, Head of Research at Privacy Internationalindexoncensorshiptv
Washington, D.C.-based researcher and activist Chris Soghoian, who attended the conference, talks to Index about the similarities legislation around surveillance in both the UK and the United States:
Index interview with activist and researcher Chris Soghoianindexoncensorshiptv
Useful overview of digital freedoms in international law here:
Digital freedoms in international lawOverview of our GNI report, downloadable from http://globalnetworkinitiative.org/news/new-report-outlines-recommendations-governments-com…
Check out the full report below:
New Report Outlines Recommendations for Governments, Companies and Others on How to Protect Free Expression and Privacy Rights Online | Global Network InitiativeThursday, June 14, 2012 – 07:03
