Freedom of expression online: identifying and addressing challenges and developing a shared vision and a working partnership (WP1216)

Wilton Park organized this event at Wiston House, Sussex, UK from February 13 to 15, 2013. Pranesh Prakash participated in it.

Read the report published by Wilton Park.

In support of Her Majesty’s Government priorities with regard to freedom of expression on the internet, the roundtable strategy meeting provided an expert forum for practical discussion in order to:

Identify challenges, drivers and address emerging concerns across a spectrum of stakeholders
Map out ongoing initiatives and draw on lessons learned to pinpoint constraints, opportunities and next steps
Challenge and progress thinking towards norms of human rights behaviour on the Internet
Identify specific streams of work, future projects and practical initiatives that would help protect human rights on the Internet whilst addressing challenges/concerns
Broaden dialogue and expand the expert network with a view to future collaboration

The meeting brought together up to 50 people to include governments, industry, NGOs, human rights groups, activists and other specialists with expertise in online freedom of information.

Click to see the list of participants

Agenda

Wednesday, 13 February

Participants arrive and buffet lunch available

13.00 -14.30	Participants arrive and buffet lunch available
15.00	Welcome to Wilton Park and introduction to strategy meeting Julia Purcell Programme Director, Wilton Park, Steyning
15.15 - 16.45	Online freedom of expression: challenges, constraints and the forward vision Is freedom of expression online important? And why? What are the main challenges and constraints impacting on freedom of expression online? What are the opportunities afforded? Looking ahead - what would be the ideal state of play? And how to attain that vision? Vijay Rangarajan Director, Multilateral Policy Directorate, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London Johan Hallenborg Deputy Director, Human Rights, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Stockholm Alessandro Molon Federal Deputy, Brazilian Congress, Brasilia
16.45 - 17.30	Photograph followed by tea/coffee
17.30 - 18.45	Ensuring a human rights perspective: identifying the challenges What can be drawn from existing legal and rights based frameworks and conventions? How to maximise the potential of these mechanisms and ensure that lessons learned are applied? What are the practical challenges as seen from different perspectives? How to address national interests in the context of a global internet? What are the related issues eg impact on trade and other revenue? What are the risks of getting it wrong? How to build trust among communities and engendering a shared understanding. Keir Starmer Director of Public Prosecutions, Crown Prosecution Service, London Agnès Callamard Executive Director, ARTICLE 19, London Chiranuch Premchaiporn Executive Director, Foundation for Community Educational Media, Bangko
19.30	Informal drinks reception
20.00	Dinner Hosted by: Richard Burge Chief Executive, Wilton Park, Steyning

Thursday, 14 February

08.00 - 08.45	Breakfast
09.15 - 10.45	The art of the possible: investigating opportunities What are the motivators and drivers for different communities, including NGOs, governments, technicians and/or users? What about the positive possibilities? Where are the points of friction or disagreement? And where are the points of potential agreement? What are the practical examples of good practice? How to shape communities of concern towards a platform for shared action?
	Session Chair: Andrew Puddephatt Director, Global Partners and Associates, London Eunice Kariuki Deputy Chief Executive and Marketing Director, Kenya ICT Board, Nairobi Cherian George Associate Professor, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
10.45 - 11.15	Tea/coffee
11.15 - 12.30	Freedom of expression online: expanding understanding World Café style brainstorm 6 hosted tables to represent: Table 1: Users Table 2: Civil Society Table 3: Governments Table 4: Industry Table 5: Regional/global bodies Table 6: Technical Table hosts to include: Elizabeth Linder Politics and Government Specialist, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Facebook, London Andrew Puddephatt Director, Global Partners and Associates, London Patrick Robinson Director, Business and Human Rights, Yahoo!, London Jason Shepherd Policy Adviser, Cabinet Office, London Daniel Weitzner Director, MIT Decentralised Information Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge Sameer Padania Programme Officer, Open Society Foundations, London
12.30 - 13.15	Reflections from World Café In plenary - brief reports from brainstorming session by table hosts.
13.15 - 15.00	Lunch
14.00 - 15.00	Optional activity - tour of the Wiston House Gardens led by: Robert Mitchell, Kew Dip. Head Gardener, Wiston House, Steyning
15.00 - 16.15	Discussion groups based on reflections from world café brainstorm
16.15 - 17.00	Tea/coffee
17.00 - 18.15	Practitioners’ exchange: towards realistic recommendations Discussion on norms, experiences and activities. Each group to consider: Blocks/ Risks Opportunities Gaps - what’s missing: research/information needs Ways forward - action for next 3 years
18.15 - 18.45	Review of discussion group outcomes Facilitators/rapporteurs in Library
19.30	Informal drinks followed by dinner

Friday, 15 February

08.00 - 08.45	Breakfast
09.15 - 09.45	Report back from working groups
09.45 - 11.00	Who does what: looking to the future Developed from previous sessions - who does what: remit, roles and responsibilities. Session Moderator: John Kampfner, Adviser, Free Expression, Global Network Initiative, Washington DC Reflections from respondents to include: Jamie Saunders Director, International Cyber Policy, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London *Ahmed Ashour Journalist/Producer, Al Jazeera Media Network, Doha
11.00 - 11.30	Tea/coffee
11.30 - 12.45	Concluding session: ways forward Session Chair: Louise de Sousa Head, Human Rights and Democracy Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
13.00	Lunch
14.00	Participants depart

Freedom of expression online: identifying and addressing challenges and developing a shared vision and a working partnership (WP1216)

Wednesday, 13 February

Thursday, 14 February

Friday, 15 February

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