EIF event – Foreign policy – human rights aspects of ICT

 

Technology, combined to freedom of expression, is a potent vehicle for citizens to be heard in a more instantaneous and collaborative fashion.  Yet, there are many barriers to fulfilling the full potential of technology as an enabler to human rights. The EIF event – Foreign policy – human rights aspects of ICT – discussed the potential and limitations of human rights and ICT

The participants were:

Marietje Schaake, MEP and EIF Governor

Views from the European Commission: the institutional dimension Andrea Glorioso, Coordinator of the Internet Policy and Governance Team at the European Commission DG INFSO

Views from the civil society: the NGO dimension Margaret Wachenfeld, Senior Legal Advisor at the Institute for Human Rights and Business

Views from the advocacy community: Daniel Calingaert, Vice President of Policy and External Affairs at Freedom House

 

Some key points:

Free societies provide more business opportunities.

The disconnect strategy(cutting off people from the Internet)  is a violation of human rights

Engagement strategy for ICT and human rights:

1) Tools provide and training

2) Relationship with businesses

3) European capability

4) Cooperation with parties

Technology brings a new audience to the discussion

Ignorance of human rights violation and misuse of technology (for companies) is no longer an excuse

Remedy for human rights violations could be an issue in the future

Many of the violaters of human rights are seeking to occupy the Internet (ie put their own message across strongly/on search engines etc)

Peter Linton raised the question of lawful intercept authorised in the ITU convention and it’s implications

I raised the question of US / EU engagement strategy in the context of ‘Internet in a suitcase’ ie active engagement from the US

The audio recordings HERE

Image source: NY times  ‘Internet in a suitcase’

EIF event – Foreign policy – human rights aspects of ICT