[governance] Readout of Internet Freedom Policy Workshop #US #Freedom Online #FoX #FoE

Fri Oct 5 21:07:15 EDT 2012

Dear All,
This was a Press Release by the US State Department, I wonder if anyone in
the IGC attended and can give us their take on how it went. Apparently this
is a buildup from the Freedom Online Conference hosted in Kenya recently
Readout of Internet Freedom Policy Workshop

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 5, 2012

------------------------------

Over 100 representatives from companies, civil society groups,
universities, and the U.S. Government discussed today’s toughest Internet
freedom challenges at an Internet Freedom Policy Workshop hosted by the
Department of State on Monday, October 1.

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights
Maria Otero underscored the principle of openness by emphasizing the need
to preserve the involvement of all stakeholders – the private sector, civil
society, governments and others – in the future of Internet policy.
Assistant Secretary Michael Posner facilitated a discussion on how to
incorporate freedom of expression and privacy into Internet policy
discussions with developing nations. Christopher Painter, Coordinator for
Cyber Issues, spoke to U.S. advances promoting Internet freedom as part its
comprehensive international cyber policy strategy.

Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
Bob Hormats noted the importance of the upcoming World Conference on
International Telecommunications negotiations for the preservation of
Internet openness. He also encouraged U.S. companies to seek export
licenses for certain connective technologies that can help the people of
Syria, Iran, and other sanctioned countries to better communicate with each
other and the outside world.

Workshop participants discussed how to reconcile the goal of promoting
Internet and mobile phone connectivity for people living in repressive
environments, with the goal of denying repressive governments the capacity
to track, monitor, and surveil their own people. Participants also reviewed
practical steps that businesses can take to address their human rights
impacts, including establishing systematic processes for handling human
rights issues, engaging stakeholders before problems arise, and considering
retroactive disclosure of decisions when immediate disclosure is not
possible.

The workshop builds on the accomplishments of the second Coalition for
Freedom Online conference, which coordinates international diplomatic
actions related to Internet freedom, hosted by Kenya on September 6-7. The
Coalition also launched the Digital Defenders Partnership, an unprecedented
collaboration among governments to provide emergency support for Internet
users under threat for peacefully exercising their universal rights through
new technologies. Tunisia announced it would become the Coalition’s 18th state
and host the next conference in 2013.

For more on the U.S. Government’s engagement on Internet freedom, visit
www.humanrights.gov.

PRN: 2012/1604

-- 
Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
P.O. Box 17862
Suva
Fiji

Twitter: @SalanietaT
Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
Fiji Cell: +679 998 2851
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