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December 2011

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New GISWatch report 2011 published
by Wolf Ludwig Dec. 8, 2011

Dec. 8, 2011

Dear all, Some of you may have noticed previous editions of the Global Information Society Watch (GISW) reports already. This years focus was on human rights and Online freedoms and the 2011 report covered several European countries (listed below). Bosnia and Herzegovina http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/freedom-expression/bosnia-and-her… Bulgaria http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/freedom-expression/bulgaria Croatia http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/freedom-expression/croatia France http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/internet-rights/france Italy http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/freedom-expression/italy Netherlands http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/internet-rights/netherlands Romania http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/social-mobilisation/romania Spain http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/social-mobilisation/spain Sweden http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/freedom-expression/sweden Switzerland http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/freedom-association/switzerland UK http://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/social-mobilisation/united-kingdom For the global report see the press release from APC. _____ New report on Internet and democracy is dedicated to the Arab revolutions THURSDAY DECEMBER 8 2011, Johannesburg (APC and Hivos) – Launching on December 10 - Human Rights Day-- the Global Information Society Watch 2011 report investigates how governments and internet and mobile phone companies are restricting freedom online - and how citizens are responding using the very same technologies. Everyone is familiar with the stories of Egypt and Tunisia. GISWatch authors tell these and other lesser-known stories from over fifty countries including: * PRISON CONDITIONS IN ARGENTINA Prisoners are using the internet protest living conditions and demand respect for their rights. * TORTURE IN INDONESIA The torture of two West Papuan farmers was recorded on a mobile phone and leaked to the internet. The video spread to well-known human rights sites sparking public outrage and a formal investigation by the authorities. * THE TSUNAMI IN JAPAN Citizens used social media to share actionable information during the devastating tsunami, and in the aftermath online discussions contradicted misleading reports coming from state authorities. Other countries include China, Iran, Lebanon and Pakistan. “Written by internationally-renowned experts, the report brings its readers easy-to-read and yet comprehensive articles, many with policy proposals, on the most important challenges protecting human rights on the internet is facing today,” says lawyer Matthias C. Kettemann, co-chair of the Internet Rights and Principles Coalition. “The report's country studies – which are in turn saddening, moving, uplifting – shed light on how the internet can truly be a catalyst for change – and how it can be misused.” In his preface to the report Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression says “GISWatch 2011 offers timely commentary on the future of the internet as an open and shared platform that everyone has the right to access.” GISWatch 2011 also includes expert reports from: * Egyptian blogger Ramy Raoof on the the role of the internet in the wave of recent social resistance in North Africa * Alex Comninos on revolutions and cyber crackdowns in the Middle East and North Africa * Ron Deibert (Open Net Initiative) on cyberwarfare and counter-terrorism: implications for an open and free internet * Joe McNamee (EDRI) on internet intermediaries - the border control guards who get to monitor and censor your content simply because they host your information * Ben Wagner on Who profits from restricting speech? Global Information Society Watch 2011 Internet rights and democratisation - Focus on freedom of expression and association online Published by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and Hivos The report is available online for download at www.giswatch.org from December 8. ____ Regards, Wolf EuroDIG Secretariat http://www.eurodig.org/ mobile +41 79 204 83 87 Skype: Wolf-Ludwig EURALO - ICANN's Regional At-Large Organisation http://euralo.org Profile on LinkedIn http://ch.linkedin.com/in/wolfludwig

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Feedback from Swiss New gTLD Event, 28 Nov. in Bern
by Wolf Ludwig Dec. 3, 2011

Dec. 3, 2011

Dear all, this is just a short feedback on the New gTLD Event last Monday in Bern/Switzerland (as announced before): http://www.new-gtld.ch/agenda.php This Swiss event organized by OFCOM, the registry SWITCH, the Swiss business association EconomieSuisse and EURALO can be considered as a plain success with more than 150 participants from all parts of the country. The only weak point was the evident under-representation of civil society and net-focused groups. The program offered an intro/overview on ICANN, TLD and gTLD basics with subsequent sessions about chances and risks of this new gTLD generation approved by ICANN in June 2011 in Singapore, as well as its launch and application process early next year. The presentations and video recordings from the event are available at the website now. This new gTLD info day was an extraordinary national outreach opportunity for EURALO to make us known among the different stakeholder groups (federal offices, reps. from cities and cantons, specialised business segments, law firms etc.). Events like this offer some potential to represent EURALO on national levels and comparable opportunities like national IGFs etc. (as it was the case twice already at the Ukrainian IGFs, EuroDIG etc.). As a key conclusion from the recent Swiss event can be drawn: Several private and business projects seem to be well prepared for the first application round early next year (January – April 2012). But as it was mentioned by Sandra at our last monthly call (referring to the German event early November in Berlin), most of the public entities are not aware about these new gTLD options and cannot submit projects in time for the first – and narrow – application round, besides the few and well-known city/community projects like .Berlin, .Paris, .London etc. In the public sector there is still a lot of awareness raising and consultation needed to convince the decision makers about these new opportunities. Thanks for your attention and kind regards, Wolf P. S. @Heidi/At-Large Staff: Can you please forward this feedback to interested parties at ICANN – Thanks! EuroDIG Secretariat http://www.eurodig.org/ mobile +41 79 204 83 87 Skype: Wolf-Ludwig EURALO - ICANN's Regional At-Large Organisation http://euralo.org Profile on LinkedIn http://ch.linkedin.com/in/wolfludwig

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