Transcript Opening Presentation - Andrew Puddephatt, Global Partners

Challenges to freedom of
expression
• The right to freedom of expression is a
“foundation right” in society. Defined in
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• It protects the right to:
- Express ourselves in words, music etc.
- Receive and exchange ideas and
information
- Operates “regardless of frontiers”
Why is it important
• Essential to our humanity to express
ourselves
• Enables us to better protect other rights
and freedoms
• Provides the basis of democracy by
allowing the exchange of ideas and
opinions
• Enables human development
What does it need?
• To express ourselves we need means of
communication
• - One to one conversation
• - To meet as groups in association
• - One speaking to many
• Otherwise the right is meaningless
• All of these operate in different ways and
by different rules
Do networked digital
What limits free expression?
communications affect these limits?
• Geographical and linguistic boundaries
Create a global, accessible communications network carrying all
kinds of content available through different devices
• Technical limits
An environment where 1 to1, group conversations and 1 to many
communication happen side by side
• Censorship, direct and indirect
}
Traditional “gatekeepers” and bottlenecks - government,
corporations, “mediators” -undermined
• Commercial factors
A communication
democracy?
The content layer – the subject
• matter
It depends
who
controls
of the communication
the new
environment.
• Actors and institutions can exercise
The Application layer – tools to
influence
at a vast number of places in the
navigate
content.
environment…
Connectivity & code layer – the
‘language’ or protocols of the
communication.
The Physical layer – the physical
infrastructure that makes
communications possible.
The issues
• How networked communications
– Expands the way we get information and
debate issues
– Increases our ability to act
– Offers the possibility of changing politics and
empowering people
– Increases the opportunities to share and
develop human creativity
The result
• We strengthen and enhance freedom of
expression
– We increase the capacity of humanity to
realise its own potential
– We strengthen democracy and democratic
participation
– We will have new opportunities for sustainable
development
Unless
• Governments control networked
communications for their own ends
• Traditional media companies take over the
environment
• Private companies use it exclusively for
commercial ends
• The technology is turned against us
The questions?
• Can networked communications help
overcome the limitations of monopolisation
and censorship in Africa
• Can it help build a democratic politics, a
more equal society and a vibrant culture
• Can we have a global communication
environment that is under “public” control,
rather than government or business