Access Live Stream Symposium: the Middle East, the Revolution and the Internet

Описание: On Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST (GMT-5) Access hosted a live streamed online symposium entitled: The Middle East, the Revolution, and the Internet. The full description of the event appears below. Symposium participants include:

Frank La Rue: United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Marietje Schaake: Dutch Member of the European Parliament
Jillian York: Harvard University Berkman Center
Tarek Amr: Egyptian Digital Activist on Global Voices
Walid Al-Saqaf: Yemeni software developer and journalist
Mohamed ElGohary: Egyptian Activist
Aasil Ahmad: Democracy Activist
Brett Solomon: Access (Moderator)


The Middle East, the Revolution, and the Internet
Tech-utopians and tech-doomsayers continue their debate over the impact of the internet on politics and democracy. Meanwhile mass demonstrations have spread across the Middle East, causing the downfall of one government and putting others on high alert. In each case we know technology has played a vital role in mobilizing protestors and transmitting information in real time around the globe. The existential threat it plays to a regime has been demonstrated by Egypt's internet shutdown. "The Middle East, the Revolution and the Internet" brings together experts in the field to discuss and debate the issues in real time.

Access's live web symposium will examine the impact of new (social) media and the internet on political freedom. On the one hand, we can expect grassroots activists to make use of technology to facilitate their activities. On the other hand, the new era provides opportunities for dictators and regimes to survey and monitor like never before. With voices from academia to the front line, Access will explore how activists use the net, the challenges for state actors, and the likely winners and losers in the digital cat and mouse game.