Index on censorship has called upon the G20 countries to put free speech on the agenda when they meet in Saint Petersburg, Russia for a summit on 5-6 September.
Index on Censorship Campaigns and Policy Director Marek Marczynski said:
“The G20 should not solely be about advancing economic development but also about advancing the human rights of citizens within the G20 and beyond. Following recent revelations about mass surveillance by the US, the UK and other countries, it is more important than ever that they clearly express their commitment to freedom of speech, the freedom of the media and individuals’ rights to privacy. The G20 should be on the forefront of protecting those rights and freedoms in their own countries and globally.”
Files leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden have revealed the extent of surveillance by the NSA in the US and GCHQ in the UK. It is time for the G20 leaders to be transparent about the activities they carry out in the name of national security and consider the impact that they have on their citizens. Any measures to restrict freedom of speech, privacy and other human rights in the name of the fight against terrorism should be within the permissible legal limits. They can only be justified if they are necessary in a democratic society.
In the lead up to the summit, Index has been publishing articles exploring the free expression records of some of the G20 nations. The ongoing series can be found here.
Index held an event last night with Doughty Street Chambers, where a panel of experts discussed whether or not democratic freedoms have been eroded by mass surveillance programmes.
The panel included the Guardian’s Technology Editor, Charles Arthur, Stephen Cragg, QC (Doughty Street Chambers), Index Chief Executive Kirsty Hughes, and Liberty’s Policy Director, Bella Sankey. The discussion was chaired by Kirsty Brimelow (Doughty Street Chambers, Chairwoman of Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales.)
Check out the conversation below, and be sure to follow @IndexEvents for updates on our future events:
Venue Doughty Street Chambers,
54 Doughty Street
London, WC1N 2LS (map) Time 6.30pm RSVP[email protected] Space is limited, so please reserve a place early
Edward Snowden’s leaks about the US’s international mass surveillance programmes has prompted perhaps the definitive debate of our age: How free are we online? Can we ever trust technology with our personal details?
Have democratic freedoms been subverted by surveillance programmes such as PRISM and Tempora, justified on the grounds of security?
Join Index on Censorship and Doughty Street Chambers on 25 July to discuss these issues and more.
Free speech, Mass Surveillance and Modern Media: how free are we and who decides?
Updating a status, tweeting a celebrity, Instagramming our breakfast- we all do it, but how much do you think about who is seeing what you put online? Social media is constantly hitting the headlines as people are arrested for posting a picture or sending a tweet without thinking of the real-life consequences. But should what happens online stay online? And can our governments ever be justified in reading our private messages in order to keep us safe?
If you want to discuss, argue or learn a bit more about these issues then join Index on Censorship and the Lewisham Youth Parliament and Young Mayor for, “Mass surveillance and modern media: who’s in control?”, to debate how our freedom of expression is being challenged by these developments in modern communication.
The event will be part debate and part workshop starting with a panel and Q&A session between Index on Censorship’s CEO, Kirsty Hughes and Philip Cowell, Head of Programmes at English PEN. It will be chaired by Index’s Head of Advocacy, Mike Harris. You will get to the chance to challenge our speakers on the key issues before breaking into workshop groups to discuss, and attempt to answer, some of the most problematic issues facing free speech online:
If we voluntarily put all our information online do we still deserve the right to privacy?
Where would you draw the line on offensive speech made on social media?
Do you mind our government reading your emails in the name of national security?
The event will be hosted at the Albany Theatre in Deptford Monday 22nd July from 5-7pm for young people between 14-20 years old. There is limited space so if you would like to take part in this exciting debate please email Fiona Bradley
