The Centre for Internet and Society
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November 2012 Bulletin
https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/november-2012-bulletin
<b>Welcome to the newsletter of November 2012 from the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS). The present issue features an analysis of Section 66A of the IT Act by Pranesh Prakash, comments on the draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, an introduction to 12 mobile devices that we are researching as part of the Pervasive Technologies project, submissions of civil society in relation to the revision of International Telecommunication Regulations that are to take place at the ITU's World Conference on International Telecommunications in Dubai, updates from the Wikipedia community on Indic languages, and news and media coverage.</b>
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<p style="text-align: justify; "><span class="visualHighlight"><b>Jobs</b></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS is seeking applications for the posts of <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/jobs/research-manager">Research Manager</a> and <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/jobs/programme-officer-internet-governance">Programme Officer – Internet Governance</a>. To apply send your resume to <a href="mailto:sunil@cis-india.org">sunil@cis-india.org</a>.</p>
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<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/accessibility">Accessibility</a></h2>
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<td style="text-align: justify; ">India has an estimated 70 million disabled persons who are unable to read printed materials due to some form of physical, sensory, cognitive or other disability. The disabled need accessible content, devices and interfaces facilitated via copyright law and electronic accessibility policies:</td>
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<p><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/human-machine-interfaces-the-history-of-an-uncertain-future">Human Machine Interfaces: The History of an Uncertain Future</a> (by Sharath Chandra Ram, November 30, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Event Participated</b></p>
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<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/itu-int-itu-d-asp-cms-events-2012-nepal-itu-nta-workshop-on-making-ict-and-mobile-phones-accessible-for-persons-with-disabilities-in-nepal" class="external-link"><span class="external-link">Workshop on Making ICT and Mobile Phones Accessible for Persons with Disabilities in Nepal</span></a></li>
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(organised by ITU, November 9, 2012). Nirmita Narasimhan was a speaker in the session "Introduction: ICT and Telecom Accessibility, Good Practices in Policy and Industry Initiatives".
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<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/a2k">Access to Knowledge</a></h2>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Access to Knowledge programme addresses the harms caused to consumers, developing countries, human rights, and creativity/innovation from excessive regimes of copyright, patents, and other such monopolistic rights over knowledge:</p>
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<p><b>WIPO Transcripts</b></p>
<b> </b>
<p>We are providing archival copies of the transcripts of the 25th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights held in Geneva from November 19 to 23, 2012:</p>
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<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/wipo-sccr-25-day-1-november-19-2012.txt">WIPO SCCR 25 Day 1, November 19, 2012</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/wipo-sccr-25-day-2-november-20-2012.txt">WIPO SCCR 25 Day 2, November 20, 2012</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/wipo-sccr-25-day-3-november-21-2012.txt">WIPO SCCR 25 Day 3, November 21, 2012</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/wipo-sccr-25-day-4-november-22-2012.txt">WIPO SCCR 25 Day 4, November 22, 2012</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/wipo-sccr-25-day-5-november-23-2012.txt">WIPO SCCR 25 Day 5, November 23, 2012</a></li>
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<p><b>Comments</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/comments-on-broadcast-treaty-and-exceptions-and-limitations-for-libraries-and-archives">Comments on the Broadcast Treaty and Exceptions and Limitations for Libraries and Archives</a> (by Smitha Krishna Prasad, November 29, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/comments-on-science-technology-and-innovation-policy-draft">Comments on the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (Draft)</a> (by Snehashish Ghosh, submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology, November 26, 2012).</li>
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<h3>Pervasive Technologies: Access to Knowledge in the Marketplace</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As a part of the Pervasive Technologies: Access to Knowledge in the Marketplace research project, CIS is researching upon 12 gray-market mobile devices to generate a better understanding of the intellectual property implications of the pervasive mobile technologies available in the Indian market:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Workshop Report</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/exploring-the-internals-of-mobile-devices">Exploring the Internals of Mobile Devices — Report from a One-day Workshop at TERI</a> (by Jadine Lannon, November 30, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/icomm-2012-report">ICOMM2012: International Communications and Electronics Fair</a> (by Jadine Lannon, November 14, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/pervasive-mobile-technologies-meet-our-grey-market-devices">Pervasive Mobile Technologies: Meet Our Mobile Devices!</a> (by Jadine Lannon, November 30, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Upcoming Event</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/global-congress-on-ip">2012 Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest</a> (FGV Law School, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, December 15 – 17, 2012).</li>
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<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/openness">Openness</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The 'Openness' programme critically examines alternatives to existing regimes of intellectual property rights, and transparency and accountability. Under this programme, we study Open Government Data, Open Access to Scholarly Literature, Open Access to Law, Open Content, Open Standards, and Free/Libre/Open Source Software:</p>
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<p><b>Event Organised</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/autonomy-access-infrastructure-future-a-discussion-with-cs-lakshmi-on-sparrow-archive" class="external-link">Autonomy, Access, Infrastructure and Future — A Discussion with C S Lakshmi</a> (CIS, Bangalore, November 29, 2012). A video of the event is published.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/events/art-in-the-open-source-age">Art in the Open Source Age — A Talk by Gene Kogan</a> (CIS, Bangalore, November 30, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
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<li><a class="external-link" href="http://http//cis-india.org/openness/blog/informatics-nic-in-neeta-verma-alka-mishra-d-p-mishra-july-2012-open-government-platform">Open Government Platform</a> (by Neeta Verma, Alka Mishra and D.P. Mishra, Informatics Magazine, July 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Event Participated</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/science-gallery-workshop">Science Gallery Workshop @ Srishti</a> (organised by Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology and Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin, Srishti School of Art Design and Technology (N2 campus), Bangalore, November 23, 2012). Sunil Abraham participated in this event.</li>
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<h3>Access to Knowledge Programme</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Beginning from September 1, 2012, Wikimedia Foundation has <a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan">awarded</a> CIS a two-year grant of INR 26,000,000 to support and develop free knowledge in India. The <a href="http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Access_To_Knowledge/Team" title="Access To Knowledge/Team">A2K team</a> consists of three members based in Delhi: <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/people/our-team">Nitika Tandon</a>, <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/people/our-team">Subhashish Panigrahi</a> and <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/people/our-team">Noopur Raval</a>. Program Manager, <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/people/our-team">Shiju Alex</a> left the organisation. November 16, 2012 was his last working day.</p>
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<p><b>Events Organised</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/kolkata-tasting-the-sweetness-of-wikipedia">Kolkata: Tasting the Sweetness of Wikipedia!</a> (Kolkata, November 3, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/first-odia-wikipedia-education-program-to-be-rolled-out-at-iimc-dhenkanal">First Odia Wikipedia Education Program</a> (Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, November 8, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/odia-wiki-workshop-at-aml">Odia Wikipedia Workshop at AML</a> (Academy of Media Learning, Bhubaneswar, November 10, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/mini-hackathon-delhi">A Wikipedia Mini-hackathon in Delhi</a> (CIS, New Delhi, November 11, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/events/wikipedia-state-of-tech-talk-by-erik-moeller">Wikipedia: State of Tech — A Talk by Erik Moeller</a> (CIS, Bangalore, November 12, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/odia-wikipedia-workshop-organized-in-kmbb-college-bhubaneswar">An Odia Wikipedia Workshop at KMBB</a> (KMBB College, Bhubaneswar, November 19, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/follow-up-to-wikipedia-introductory-session-at-bharati%20vidyapeeth">Follow up to Wikipedia Introductory Session</a> (Bharati Vidyapeeth, Delhi, November 19, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Events Participated</b></p>
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<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/wikipedia-hackathon-hyderabad">Wikipedia Hackathon</a> (organised by BITS, Hyderabad, October 25 – 27, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/wikipedia-womens-workshop-in-mumbai">Wikipedia Women's Workshop in Mumbai</a> (by Noopur Raval, Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, Wadala, Mumbai, November 4, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>News and Media Coverage</b></p>
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<li>‘<a href="https://cis-india.org/news/bangalore-mirror-article-kalyan-subramani-nov-15-2012-some-indian-laws-could-be-challenging">Some Indian laws could be challenging</a>’ (Bangalore Mirror, November 15, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/report-of-odia-wikipedia-workshop-in-sambad">A Report of the Odia Wikipedia Workshop held in KMBB College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar</a> (Sambad, November 19, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/orissa-diary-november-23-2012-pravuprasad-routray">OdishaDiary conferred prestigious Odisha Youth Inspiration Award 2012 to Odia Wikipedia team</a> (Orissa Diary, November 23, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/article-in-cybersafar">વિકિપીડિયા ગુજરાતી માં પણ છે</a> (by Harish Kothari, Cybersafar, November 28, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/typing-in-indic-languages-from-mobiles">Typing in Indic Languages from Mobiles made Easy!</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 19, 2012).</li>
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<h3>HasGeek</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">HasGeek creates discussion spaces for geeks and has organised conferences like the <a href="http://fifthelephant.in/2012/">Fifth Elephant</a>, <a href="http://droidcon.in/2011">Droidcon India 2011</a>, <a href="http://androidcamp.hasgeek.com/">Android Camp</a>, etc. HasGeek is supported by CIS and works out from CIS office in Bengaluru. The following event was organised by HasGeek in the month of November: <a href="http://droidcon.in/2012/">Droidcon India</a> (November 2 and 3, 2012, MLR Convention Centre, Whitefield, Bangalore).</p>
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<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/internet-governance">Internet Governance</a></h2>
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The Internet Governance programme conducts research around the various social, technical, and political underpinnings of global and national Internet governance, and includes online privacy, freedom of speech, and Internet governance mechanisms and processes:
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<p><b>Analysis of IT Act</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/breaking-down-section-66-a-of-the-it-act">Breaking Down Section 66A of the IT Act</a> (by Pranesh Prakash, November 25, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/livemint-opinion-november-28-2012-pranesh-prakash-fixing-indias-anarchic-it-act">Fixing India’s anarchic IT Act</a> (by Pranesh Prakash, Livemint, November 28, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/times-crest-pranesh-prakash-november-24-2012-draft-nonsense">Draft nonsense</a> (by Pranesh Prakash, The Times of India, November 24, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Analysis of Justice AP Shah Report</b></p>
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<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/question-and-answer-to-report-of-group-of-experts-on-privacy">Q&A to the Report of the Group of Experts on Privacy</a> (by Elonnai Hickok, November 9, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Comments / Submissions to ITU</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/statement-of-civil-society-members-and-groups-at-best-bits-pre-igf-meeting" class="external-link">Statement of Civil Society Members in the "Best Bits" pre-IGF Meeting</a>. CIS was one of the signatories of this submission made to the ITU.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/submission-on-indias-draft-comments-on-proposed-changes-to-itus-itrs">Submission on India's Draft Comments on Proposed Changes to the ITU's ITRs</a>. CIS was one of the signatories along with Society for Knowledge Commons, Delhi Science Forum, Free Software Movement of India, Internet Democracy Project and Media for Change.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/submission-on-proposals-for-future-itrs-and-related-processes" class="external-link">Submission by Indian Civil Society Organisations on Future ITRs and Related Processes. </a>CIS was one of the signatories of this submission in response to ITU’s call for public comments.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/indian-govts-submission-to-itu">Indian Government's Submission to ITU</a>: We have put up the text of the submission made by the Government of India to the World Conference of International Telecommunications, Dubai on November 3, 2012.</li>
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<p><b>Event Participated</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/will-the-international-telecommunication-regulations-itrs-impact-internet-governance-a-multistakeholder-perspective">India Internet Governance Conference</a> (organised by the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, FICCI and Internet Society, October 4 -5, 2012). Pranesh Prakash made a presentation. CIS was one of the supporting organisations.</li>
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<p><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/bal-thackeray-comment-arbitrary-arrest-295A-66A">Arbitrary Arrests for Comment on Bal Thackeray's Death</a> (by Pranesh Prakash, November 19, 2012). This was re-posted in <a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?283033">Outlook</a> (November 19, 2012), <a href="http://kafila.org/2012/11/19/social-media-regulation-vs-suppression-of-freedom-of-speech-pranesh-prakash/">KAFILA</a> (November 19, 2012), and <a href="http://shailsnest.com/2012/11/20/4445/">Shail's Nest</a> (November 20, 2012). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/dot-blocks-domain-sites">DoT Blocks Domain Sites — But Reasons and Authority Unclear</a> (by Smitha Krishna Prasad, November 21, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Upcoming Events</b></p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/technology-culture-and-events-in-south-east-asia">Technology Culture and Events in South East Asia — A Presentation by Preetam Rai</a>(CIS, Bangalore, Near Domlur Club and TERI Complex, December 18, 2012, 5.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/dml-conference-2013">DML Conference 2013</a> (Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers - Chicago, Illinois, March 14 – 16, 2012).</li>
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<p><b>Internet Governance Forum</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Pranesh Prakash, Chinmayi Arun, Malavika Jayaram and Elonnai Hickok participated in the Internet Governance Forum held in Baku, Azerbaijan in the month of November 2012. In total, CIS spoke in 12 panels:</p>
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<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/best-bits">Best Bits 2012</a> (organised by Best Bits, Baku, Azerbaijan<b> </b>November 3 and 4, 2012). Pranesh Prakash and Elonnai Hickok participated in this event.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/privatisation-of-censorship">The Privatisation of Censorship: The Online Responsibility to Protect Free Expression</a> (organized by Index on Censorship, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 5, 2012). Pranesh Prakash was a panelist. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/news/new-trends-in-industry-self-governance">New Trends in Industry Self-Governance</a> (organised by Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, UK and Media Change & Innovation Division, IPMZ, University of Zurich, Switzerland and Nominet, UK, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 7, 2012 from 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m). Pranesh Prakash was a panelist.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/news/intgovforum-cms-w2012-proposals">Civil Rights in the Digital Age, about the Impact the Internet has on Civil Rights</a> (organised by ECP on behalf of the IGF-NL, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 7, 2012, 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.). Malavika Jayaram was a panelist.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/solutions-for-cross-border-data-flows">Solutions for Enabling Cross-border Data Flows</a> (co-organised by ICC BASIS and the Internet Society, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 7, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/cloudy-jurisdiction-addressing-the-thirst-for-cloud-data-in-domestic-legeal-processes">Cloudy Jurisdiction: Addressing the thirst for Cloud Data in Domestic Legeal Processes</a> (co-organised by Electronic Frontier Foundation (Peru) and University of Ottawa, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 7, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/frameworks-for-cross-border-online-communities-and-services">What Frameworks for Cross-Border Online Communities and Services</a> (hosted by the Internet & Jurisdiction Project, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 8, 2012). Chinmayi Arun was a panelist.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/news/intgovforum-cms-w2012-proposals-governing-identity-on-the-internet">Governing Identity on the Internet</a> (co-organised by Brenden Kuerbis, Citizen Lab and Christine Runnegar, Internet Society, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 8, 2012, 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.). Malavika Jayaram was a panelist.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/mag/116-workshop-proposals/1051-igf-2012-workshop-proposal-no-118-law-enforcement-via-domain-names-caveats-to-dns-neutrality">Law Enforcement via Domain Names: Caveats to DNS Neutrality</a> (organised by Hong Xue, Vivekanandan, Wei Mao and Leo Liu, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 8, 2012). Chinmayi Arun was a panelist.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/who-is-following-me">Who is Following Me: Tracking the Trackers</a> (organised by Internet Society and the Council of Europe, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 8, 2012). Malavika Jayaram was a speaker at this event.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/national-ig-mechanisms">National IG Mechanisms – Looking at Some Key Design Issues</a> (Baku, Azerbaijan, November 8, 2012). Pranesh Prakash was a panelist.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/steady-steps-foss-and-mdgs">Steady Steps.....FOSS and the MDG's</a> (organised by International Center For Free and Open Source Software and Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 8, 2012). Pranesh Prakash was a panelist.</li>
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<p><b>Event Participated</b></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/privacy-in-social-networked-world">Privacy in the Social Networked World</a> (hosted by the Centre for Business Information Ethics, Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan, on behalf of the Asian Privacy Scholars Network, November 19 – 20, 2012). Elonnai Hickok spoke on Transparency and Privacy in India.</li>
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<p><b>Featured in the Media</b></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/hindustan-times-india-news-new-delhi-nov-3-2012-power-to-youth">Power to youth</a> (The Hindustan Times, November 3, 2012). The article names Sunil Abraham and Lawrence Liang as some of the young people who are shaping the future.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/ft-magazine-nov-16-2012-25-indians-to-watch">25 Indians to watch</a> (FT Magazine, November 16, 2012). Sunil Abraham is one among the 25 rising Indian stars to watch out for.</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/whoswholegal-profiles-malavika-jayaram" class="external-link">Malavika Jayaram named a top lawyer for Internet and e-Commerce in India</a> (WHO’s WHO LEGAL, November 20, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<p><b> </b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h3>Media Coverage</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/live-mint-politics-surabhi-agarwal-nov-6-2012-information-security-policy-on-govt-agenda">Information security policy on govt agenda</a> (by Surabhi Agarwal, LiveMint, November 6, 2012). Sunil Abraham is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/times-of-india-sandhya-soman-and-pratiksha-ramkumar-nov-7-2012-law-yet-to-catch-up-with-tech-enabled-peeping-toms">Law yet to catch up with tech-enabled peeping toms</a> (by Sandhya Soman & Pratiksha Ramkumar, Times of India, November 7, 2012). Sunil Abraham is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/the-hindu-sci-tech-internet-karthik-subramanian-nov-14-2012-india-second-in-requesting-user-info-google">India second in requesting user info: Google</a> (by Karthik Subramaniam, Hindu, November 14, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/telegraphindia-opinion-story-kavitha-shanmugham-nov-14-2012-post-and-be-damned">Post and be Damned</a> (by Kavita Shanmugham, November 14, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/times-of-india-india-times-tech-tech-news-internet-ishan-srivastava-nov-15-2012-india-second-in-keeping-tabs-on-netizens">India second in keeping tabs on netizens</a> (by Ishan Srivastava, The Times of India, November 15, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/thinkdigit-internet-kul-bhushan-nov-15-2012-india-ranks-second-globally-in-accessing-private-details-of-users">India ranks second globally in accessing private details of users</a> (thinkdigit, November 15, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/articles-economic-times-nov-17-2012-indu-nandakumar-googles-transparency-report-sketchy-inconclusive">Google's 'Transparency Report' sketchy, inconclusive: Government</a> (by Indu Nandakumar, Economic Times, November 17, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/india-blogs-nytimes-nov-19-2012-neha-thirani-hari-kumar-women-arrested-in-mumbai-for-complaining-on-facebook">Women Arrested in Mumbai for Complaining on Facebook</a> (by Neha Thirani and Hari Kumar, New York Times, November 19, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/first-post-nov-19-2012-girls-arrested-for-facebook-post-on-thackeray-get-bail">Girls arrested for Facebook post on Thackeray get bail</a> (FirstPost, November 19, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/first-post-india-nov-19-2012-arrest-of-girl-over-thackeray-fb-update-clear-misuse-of-sec-295a">Arrest of girl over Thackeray FB update a clear misuse of Sec 295A</a> (FirstPost, November 19, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/india-blogs-nytimes-november-20-2012-how-to-steer-clear-of-indias-strict-internet-laws">How to Steer Clear of India’s Strict Internet Laws</a> (by Sangeeta Rajesh and Heather Timmons, New York Times, November 20, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/ibnlive-news-nov-20-2012-netizens-flay-mumbai-girls-arrest-over-facebook-post">Internet users flay Mumbai girls' arrest over Facebook post</a> (IBN Live, November 20, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/first-post-politics-venky-vembu-nov-20-2012-arrests-over-facebook-posts-why-were-on-a-dangerous-slide">Arrests over Facebook posts: Why we’re on a dangerous slide</a> (Venky Vembu, FirstPost, November 20, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/times-of-india-arun-dev-nov-20-2012-girl-arrest-draws-flak-on-social-media">Girl's arrest draws flak on social media</a> (The Times of India, November 20, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/indiatimes-sonal-bhadoria-nov-21-2012-indias-shame-world-reacts-to-fb-post-arrest">India's Shame: World Reacts to FB Post Arrest</a> (by Sonal Bhadoria, India Times, November 21, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/whdi-reviews-nov-22-2012-indian-government-at-second-position-after-usa-for-demanding-user-data-from-google">Indian government at second position after U.S.A for demanding user data from Google</a> (WHDI Reviews, November 22, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/indolink-november-2012-indians-rank-second-for-online-shopping">Indians Rank Second For Online Snooping</a> (Indolink, November 23, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/the-hindu-nov-23-2012-shalini-singh-civil-society-and-industry-oppose-indias-plans-to-modify-itrs">Civil society & industry oppose India’s plans to modify ITRs</a> (by Shalini Singh, The Hindu, November 23, 2012). Sunil Abraham is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/business-standard-november-28-2012-nirmalya-behera-amnesty-international-calls-for-review-of-66a-of-it-act">Amnesty International calls for review of 66A of IT act</a> (by Nirmalya Behera, Business Standard, November 28, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/dnaindia-nov-29-2012-apoorva-dutt-thousands-go-online-against-66a">Thousands go online against 66A</a> (by Apoorva Dutt, DNA, November 29, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/the-hindu-businessline-november-29-2012-the-flaw-in-cyber-law">The flaw in cyber law</a> (by S Ronendra Singh, Hindu Business Line, November 29, 2012). Sunil Abraham and Snehashish Ghosh are quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/livemint-politics-november-29-2012-surabhi-agarwal-govt-tweaks-enforcement-of-it-act-after-spate-of-arrests">Govt tweaks enforcement of IT Act after spate of arrests</a> (by Surabhi Agarwal, LiveMint, November 29, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/the-atlantic-wire-november-29-2012-david-wagner-you-can-get-arrested-for-facebook-status-update-now">Yes, You Can Get Arrested for a Facebook Status Update Now</a> (by David Wagner, Atlantic Wire, November 29, 2012). Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/first-post-politics-lakshmi-chaudhry-november-30-2012-the-real-sibals-law-resisting-section-66a-is-futile">The real Sibal’s law: Resisting Section 66A is futile</a> (by Lakshmi Chaudhry, FirstPost, November 30, 2012). Pranesh Prakash’s blog post on section 66A which was also published in Outlook is quoted.</li>
</ul>
<p><b> </b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h3>Videos</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/ndtv-video-ndtv-special-ndtv-24x7">Women arrested for Facebook post: Did cops act under Sena pressure?</a> (NDTV, November 19, 2012). YP Singh, Alyque Padamsee, Rohan Joshi, Karuna Nundy and Pranesh Prakash took part in a discussion about the arrest of two girls over a Facebook comment.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/ibnlive-videos-november-20-2012-the-last-word-is-there-a-need-to-review-information-technology-act">The Last Word: Is there a need to review Information Technology Act?</a> (CNN-IBN, November 20, 2012). Aryaman Sundaram, Pavan Duggal, Pranesh Prakash and Ravi Visvesvaraya Prasad took part in a discussion with Karan Thapar on section 66A of the IT Act.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/livemint-november-30-2012-video-interview-with-pranesh-prakash">Interview with Pranesh Prakash</a> (by Surabhi Agarwal, LiveMint, November 30, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<p><b> </b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>
<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/telecom">Telecom</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">While the potential for growth and returns exist for telecommunications in India, a range of issues need to be addressed. One aspect is more extensive rural coverage and the other is a countrywide access to broadband which is low. Both require effective and efficient use of networks and resources, including spectrum:</p>
<p> </p>
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h3><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/telecom/telecom-knowledge-repository/knowledge-and-capacity-around-telecom-policy">Building Knowledge and Capacity around Telecommunication Policy in India</a></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Ford Foundation has given a grant of USD 2,00,000 to CIS to build expertise in the area of telecommunications in India. The knowledge repository deals with these modules: Introduction to Telecommunications, Telecommunications Infrastructure and Technologies, Government of India Regulatory Framework for Telecom, Telecommunication and the Market, Universal Access and Accessibility, The International Telecommunications Union and other international bodies, Broadcasting, Emerging Topics and Way Forward. Dr. Surendra Pal, Satya N Gupta, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Payal Malik, Dr. Rakesh Mehrotra and Dr. Nadeem Akhtar are the expert reviewers.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>The following are the new outputs:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/telecom-knowledge-repository/dot-its-powers-and-responsibilities">DoT — Its Powers and Responsibilities</a> (by Snehashish Ghosh, November 30, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/telecom-knowledge-repository/govt-policy-and-guidelines">Government Policy and Guidelines</a> (by Snehashish Ghosh, November 30, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/telecom-knowledge-repository/trai-regulations">TRAI Regulations</a> (by Snehashish Ghosh, November 30, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/telecom-knowledge-repository/trai-telecommunication-tariff-orders">TRAI Telecommunication Tariff Orders</a> (by Snehashish Ghosh, November 30, 2012).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p><b>Newspaper Columns</b></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/blog/organizing-india-blogspot-in-2012-nov-3-2012-shyam-ponappa-super-wifi-shared-spectrum">Super WiFi & Shared Spectrum: A Time to Start Sharing</a> (by Shyam Ponappa, Organizing India Blogspot on November 3, 2012 and Business Standard, November 1, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/blog/the-hindu-businessline-november-24-2012-jayna-kothari-folly-of-mandating-spectrum-auctions">Folly of Mandating Spectrum Auctions</a> (by Jayna Kothari, Hindu Business Line, November 24, 2012).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p><b>Event Participated</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://jmi.ac.in/bulletinboard/eventmodule/latest/detail/674/22969">2nd MPL Faculty Workshop (North Zone) on Teaching Public Policy, Media and Law</a> (Central University, Rajasthan, November 1-2, 2012). Snehashish Ghosh made a presentation on "Building a Telecom Knowledge Repository."</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>
<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/digital-natives">Digital Natives</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Digital Natives with a Cause? examines the changing landscape of social change and political participation in light of the role that young people play through digital and Internet technologies, in emerging information societies. Consolidating knowledge from Asia, Africa and Latin America, it builds a global network of knowledge partners who critically engage with discourse on youth, technology and social change, and look at alternative practices and ideas in the Global South:</p>
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p><b>Interview</b></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/nishant-shah-whose-change-is-it-anyway">Whose Change Is It Anyway? | DML2013</a>: As a preparation for the DML conference, Nishant Shah had an interview with Howard Rheingold, a cyberculture pioneer, social media innovator, and author of "Smart Mobs. Watch the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ueRSm1TTw">video</a> on YouTube.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h2><a href="http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/">About CIS</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS was registered as a society in Bangalore in 2008. As an independent, non-profit research organisation, it runs different policy research programmes such as Accessibility, Access to Knowledge, Openness, Internet Governance, and Telecom. The policy research programmes have resulted in outputs such as the <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/advocacy/accessibility/blog/e-accessibility-handbook">e-Accessibility Policy Handbook for Persons with Disabilities</a> with ITU and G3ict, and <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/digital-natives/front-page/blog/dnbook">Digital Alternatives with a Cause?</a>, <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/digital-natives/front-page/blog/position-papers">Thinkathon Position Papers</a> and the <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/digital-natives/front-page/blog/digital-natives-with-a-cause-a-report">Digital Natives with a Cause? Report</a> with Hivos, etc. We conducted policy research for the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, etc., on <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/a2k/blog/cis-analysis-july2011-treaty-print-disabilities">WIPO Treaties</a>, <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/a2k/blog/analysis-copyright-amendment-bill-2012">Copyright Bill</a>, <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/internet-governance/front-page/blog/cis-feedback-to-nia-bill">NIA Bill</a>, etc. CIS is accredited as an observer at WIPO, and has given policy briefs to delegations from various countries, our Programme Manager, Nirmita Narasimhan won the <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/accessibility/blog/national-award">National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities</a> from the Government of India and also received the <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/news/nirmita-nivh-award">NIVH Excellence Award</a>.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p><b>Follow us elsewhere</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Get short, timely messages from us on <a href="https://twitter.com/cis_india">Twitter</a></li>
<li>Join the CIS group on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/28535315687/">Facebook</a></li>
<li>Visit us at <a href="https://cis-india.org/">http://cis-india.org</a></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p><b><span>Support Us</span></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Please help us defend consumer / citizen rights on the Internet! Write a cheque in favour of ‘The Centre for Internet and Society’ and mail it to us at No. 194, 2nd ‘C’ Cross, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Bengaluru – 5600 71.</p>
</td>
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<td>
<p><b>Request for Collaboration</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We invite researchers, practitioners, and theoreticians, both organisationally and as individuals, to collaboratively engage with Internet and society and improve our understanding of this new field. To discuss the research collaborations, write to Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, at <a href="mailto:sunil@cis-india.org">sunil@cis-india.org</a> or Nishant Shah, Director – Research, at <a href="mailto:nishant@cis-india.org">nishant@cis-india.org</a></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<hr />
<p><i>CIS is grateful to its donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation and the Kusuma Trust which was founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin, for its core funding and support for most of its projects.</i></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/november-2012-bulletin'>https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/november-2012-bulletin</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceOpennessResearchers at Work2013-01-06T13:59:11ZPageAlt needs to Shift
https://cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/indian-express-nov-18-2012-nishant-shah-alt-needs-to-shift
<b>People maybe talking more online, but they all seem to be talking about the same kind of thing.</b>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: center; ">Nishant Shah's column was <a class="external-link" href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/alt-needs-to-shift/1031583/0">published in the Indian Express</a> on November 18, 2012.</p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify; ">If you were to recount what has happened in the world, based entirely on your tweetosphere and Facebook timelines, you might realise that everything important seems to have happened elsewhere. It is true that we live in a widely connected viral world, where if the USA sneezes, India gets a flu, but it seems as if lately, the things that I hear and read about are generally things that happen only at a global level. More surprisingly, most of the news that trends on Twitter, gets promoted on Facebook, and discussed on Google Plus, is in sync with what is being reported in mainstream media.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Of course, the voices are different. People have found a space for their opinions. There are strong critiques and alternative viewpoints around these events which are finding space in the public domain.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Much like the salons and cafes of the 18th century, which saw a whole range of new educated classes coming into the public to discuss and shape the society they lived in, the digital commons have created new public spaces of expression and discussion. This has been, indeed, one of the visions of the social web and we have reached a point where, at least for digital natives who have grown up within digital ecosystems, there is space to produce alternative opinions in their immediate environments.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">At the turn of the millennium, when the social Web was being shaped, this was one of the biggest excitements — the possibility that voices from outside of mainstream and traditional media, which often get curtailed, would find contestations and alternative visions from people’s everyday experiences. And in many ways, it looks like we have achieved this dream, and found channels, communities and information strategies, which allow for conflicting views to co-exist in our knowledge spectrum. It is fascinating to realise that just a decade ago, the ways in which we talked about the key questions of our life, was so different, and was largely controlled by those in positions of power who identified only certain things as “newsworthy”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Traditional media has also changed dramatically, with citizen reporters contributing to the content, crowdfunded information shaping news, and ordinary people being the first to witness globally significant events before the larger media complexes arrived. And now that we are well on our way to harnessing the power of this social web, there is something else that needs to be addressed.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">It is the concern that increasingly people are talking more, but they seem to be talking about the same kind of thing! Sure, there are many different voices, but their focus of attention is the same. We see a whole range of alternative opinions emerging, but they are still clustered around the things that traditional media is also covering.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">In the age of information overload, with so many different information streams, it feels like there is a homogenisation of information where increasingly only that which can be easily understood, easily read, easily captured to create spectacles gets to be at the centre of the attention economies. Which is why, news which is local, things which do not have global interest, and events which cannot be captured in videos on YouTube and hashtags on Twitter, do not feature in the alternative worlds of the social web. And when these locally relevant and significant things get mentioned, they have to work so much harder, to overcome the visibility threshold to get attention from the local publics.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We have found the alternative to the mainstream, but maybe it is now time to find the alternative to the alternative. We need to think of localisation of our social web. A lot of effort is made towards being on the global information highway, but we now also need to start investing energy into rendering our local contexts more accessible and intelligible, not only to the larger worlds but also to ourselves. Maybe it is time to reflect on how much we posted, read and consumed of the recent presidential elections in the USA, and try to recollect what else happened in the world. Maybe it is time to step out of our silos where we have replaced multiplicity of things with diversity of opinions about a narrow range of things. The next time you see something trending or popular, it might be a good idea to reflect on what else might be hiding behind the virality of that digital object.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">This column was informed by conversations from a thought exploration on ‘Habits of Living’ supported by Brown University and Centre for Internet and Society Bangalore</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/indian-express-nov-18-2012-nishant-shah-alt-needs-to-shift'>https://cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/indian-express-nov-18-2012-nishant-shah-alt-needs-to-shift</a>
</p>
No publishernishantFeaturedResearchers at WorkDigital Humanities2012-12-14T10:03:30ZBlog EntryWhose Change Is It Anyway? | DML2013
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/nishant-shah-whose-change-is-it-anyway
<b>As a preparation for the DML conference, Nishant Shah had an interview with Howard Rheingold, a cyberculture pioneer, social media innovator, and author of "Smart Mobs. Nishant Shah is chair of 'Whose Change Is It Anyway? Futures, Youth, Technology And Citizen Action In The Global South (And The Rest Of The World)' track at DML2013. Here, he talks about shifts in citizen engagement in Indian politics and civics, and the underlying significance of these changes.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"More and more, you have young people who are trying to come together, not merely to express discontent, but actually take action so that they can build the kinds of futures they want to occupy."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The 2013 DML conference will be held in March 14-16, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The conference is supported by the MacArthur Foundation and organized by the Digital Media and Learning Research Hub located at the University of California's systemwide Humanities Research Institute at UC Irvine.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">More details about the DML2013 Conference and the Call For Workshop/Panel/Paper Proposals can be found at the conference website: <a class="external-link" href="http://dml2013.dmlhub.net">dml2013.dmlhub.net</a>.</p>
<hr />
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Video</h3>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q1ueRSm1TTw" frameborder="0" height="315" width="320"></iframe></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/nishant-shah-whose-change-is-it-anyway'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/nishant-shah-whose-change-is-it-anyway</a>
</p>
No publishernishantVideoCyberculturesResearchers at WorkDigital Natives2015-04-24T11:47:19ZBlog EntryOctober 2012 Bulletin
https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/october-2012-bulletin
<b>Welcome to the newsletter of October 2012 from the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS). The present issue features an analysis by Ujwala Uppaluri of the Delhi High Court’s judgment in Super Cassettes v. MySpace, announcement of public call for comments for reports on “Banking and Accessibility in India” and “Making TV Accessible in India”, and updates on Indic languages.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Jobs</b><br />CIS is seeking applications the posts of <a href="https://cis-india.org/jobs/research-manager">Research Manager</a> and <a href="https://cis-india.org/jobs/programme-officer-internet-governance">Programme Officer – Internet Governance</a>. To apply send your resume to <a href="mailto:sunil@cis-india.org">sunil@cis-india.org</a>.</p>
<table class="vertical listing">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/accessibility">Accessibility</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">India has an estimated 70 million disabled persons who are unable to read printed materials due to some form of physical, sensory, cognitive or other disability. The disabled need accessible content, devices and interfaces facilitated via copyright law and electronic accessibility policies:</p>
<h3>Public Call for Comments</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/banking-and-accessibility-in-india">Banking and Accessibility in India: A Study on Banking Accessibility in India</a> (by Vrinda Maheshwari, October 30, 2012). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/making-tv-accessible-in-india">Making TV Accessible in India</a> (by Srividya Vaidyanathan, October 8, 2012). </li>
</ul>
<h3>Blog Entries</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/hathitrust-judgment-and-its-impact-on-tvi-negotiations-at-wipo">The HathiTrust Judgment and its impact on TVI negotiations at WIPO</a> (by Rahul Cherian, October 30, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/wipo-approves-road-map-on-tv">WIPO General Assemblies Approve Road Map on Treaty for the Visually Impaired</a> (by Rahul Cherian, October 11, 2012).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k">Access to Knowledge</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Access to Knowledge programme addresses the harms caused to consumers, developing countries, human rights, and creativity/innovation from excessive regimes of copyright, patents, and other such monopolistic rights over knowledge:</p>
<h3>Analysis</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/super-cassettes-v-my-space">Super Cassettes v. MySpace</a> (by Ujwala Uppaluri, October 31, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Blog Entry</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/icomm-2012-report">ICOMM2012: International Communications and Electronics Fair</a> (by Jadine Lannon, October 31, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Event Organised</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/events/workshop-exploring-the-internals-of-mobile-technologies-1">A Workshop on "Exploring the Internals of Mobile Technologies"</a> (TERI Southern Regional Centre 4th Main, Domlur II Stage Bangalore, October 27, 2012).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/openness">Openness</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The 'Openness' programme critically examines alternatives to existing regimes of intellectual property rights, and transparency and accountability. Under this programme, we study Open Government Data, Open Access to Scholarly Literature, Open Access to Law, Open Content, Open Standards, and Free/Libre/Open Source Software:</p>
<h3>Wikipedia Education Programs</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/launch-of-assamese-wikipedia-education-program">Launch of Assamese Wikipedia Education Program at Guwahati University</a> (by Nitika Tandon, October 22, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/malayalam-wikipedia-education-program-august-october-update">Malayalam Wikipedia Education Program: August to October Updates</a> (by Shiju Alex, October 29, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/gujarati-wikipedia-education-program-rajkot">Gujarat Wikipedia Education Program: Rajkot</a> (by Noopur Raval, October 31, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/gujarati-wikipedia-article-competition">Gujarati Wikipedia Article Competition – 10 schools, 200 students, 20 articles on Gujarati Wikipedia</a> (by Noopur Raval, October 31, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wikipedia Workshops</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/bengaluru-a-hub-for-kannada-and-sanskrit-wikipedia">Bengaluru: A Hub for Kannada and Sanskrit Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects!</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, October 16, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/wikipedia-workshop-ghaziabad">Wikipedia workshop @ Inmantec College, Ghaziabad</a> (by Nitika Tandon, October 19, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/wiki-women-day-2012-pune">Bridging Gender Gap in Pune: WikiWomenDay 2012 Celebrated with Success!</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, PAI International Learning Solutions, Azam Campus, Pune, October 28, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/blog/first-pune-odia-wikipedia-organized">First Pune Odia Wikipedia Organized!</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, October 31, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wikipedia Event</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/openness/events/wikipedia-hackathon-bits-hyderabad">Wikipedia Hackathon at BITS</a> Hyderabad (organized by CIS - A2K team and BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad, October 26 – 27, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wikipedia Press Coverage</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowEvents.asp?id=37463">Odisha: Odia Wikipedia workshop organized in Pune to promote Odia language</a> (OdishaDiary.com, October 31, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wikipedia Team Updates</h3>
<ul>
<li>The <a href="http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Access_To_Knowledge/Team" title="Access To Knowledge/Team">A2K team</a> consists of three members based in Delhi: <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team">Nitika Tandon</a>, <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team">Subhashish Panigrahi</a> and <a href="https://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team">Noopur Raval</a>.</li>
<li>We are seeking applications for the post of <a href="https://cis-india.org/jobs/vacancy-for-programme-director">Programme Director</a> (Access to Knowledge) for the New Delhi office.</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team">Shiju Alex</a>, Program Manager, Access to Knowledge is leaving the organisation. November 16, 2012 will be his last working day. We wish him success in all his future endeavours. </li>
</ul>
<p><b> </b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: left; ">
<p><b>HasGeek</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">HasGeek creates discussion spaces for geeks and has organised conferences like the <a href="http://fifthelephant.in/2012/">Fifth Elephant</a>, <a href="http://droidcon.in/2011">Droidcon India 2011</a>, <a href="http://androidcamp.hasgeek.com/">Android Camp</a>, etc. HasGeek is supported by CIS and works out from CIS office in Bengaluru. The following event was organised by HasGeek in the month of October:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://hacknight.in/droidconin/2012">Droidcon 2012</a> (CIS, Bangalore, October 27 – 28, 2012).</li>
</ul>
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance">Internet Governance</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Internet Governance programme conducts research around the various social, technical, and political underpinnings of global and national Internet governance, and includes online privacy, freedom of speech, and Internet governance mechanisms and processes:</p>
<h3>Column</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/epw-web-exclusives-oct-27-2012-elonnai-hickok-rethinking-dna-profiling-india">Rethinking DNA Profiling in India</a> (by Elonnai Hickok, Economic & Political Weekly, Vol - XLVII No. 43, October 27, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Analysis</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/privacy-perspectives-on-the-2012-2013-goa-beach-shack-policy">Privacy Perspectives on the 2012 -2013 Goa Beach Shack Policy</a> (by Elonnai Hickok, October 25, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Upcoming IGF Events</h3>
<p>At the seventh annual IGF meeting to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2012, CIS is organising one workshop:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/national-ig-mechanisms">National IG Mechanisms – Looking at Some Key Design Issues</a> (co-organising with Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, Institute for System Analysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, et.al., November 8, 2012 from 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m).</li>
</ul>
<p>Pranesh Prakash is a panelist in the following workshop:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/new-trends-in-industry-self-governance">New Trends in Industry Self-Governance</a> (organised by Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, UK and Media Change & Innovation Division, IPMZ, University of Zurich, Switzerland and Nominet, UK, November 7, 2012 from 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m).</li>
</ul>
<p>CIS fellow Malavika Jayaram is a panelist for these workshops:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/intgovforum-cms-w2012-proposals">Civil rights in the digital age, about the impact the Internet has on civil rights</a> (organised by ECP on behalf of the IGF-NL, November 7, 2012, 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/intgovforum-cms-w2012-proposals-governing-identity-on-the-internet">Governing Identity on the Internet</a> (organised by Brenden Kuerbis, Citizen Lab and Christine Runnegar, Internet Society, November 8, 2012, 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Upcoming Event</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/dml-conference-2013">DML Conference 2013</a> (Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers - Chicago, Illinois, March 14 – 16, 2012): CIS and Digital Media & Learning Research Hub Central are jointly organizing the DML Conference 2013 in Chicago.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Event organised</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/privacy-rights-are-a-global-challenge">The Public Voice: Privacy Rights are a Global Challenge</a> (Punta del Este, Uruguay, October 21, 2012): Malavika Jayaram was a speaker at this event.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Events Participated</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">3rd Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit (organised by EastWest Institute in partnership with NASSCOM and FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi, October 30-31, 2012): Sunil Abraham and Elonnai Hickok participated in this event.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Fourth Annual Legal Services Conference in India (organised by US India Business Council, New Delhi, October 11, 2012): Pranesh Prakash was a panelist in the session on “Censorship and Content Restrictions: The Future of Internet Speech in India”.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Meeting on Lawful Access by Law Enforcement (Brussels, October 3 – 5, 2012): Elonnai Hickok participated in the meeting.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Video</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/ndtv-news-oct-31-2012-arrested-for-tweeting-legitimate-or-curbing-free-speech">Arrested for tweeting: Legitimate or Curbing Free Speech?</a> (NDTV, October 31, 2012): Sunil Abraham participated in this discussion aired on NDTV along with Shivam Vij, SB Mishra and Sanjay Pinto.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Media Coverage</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/hindustan-times-specials-coverage-gujarat-assembly-elections-2012-zia-haq-oct-26-2012-on-social-media-modi-goes-soft">On social media, Modi goes soft</a> (by Zia Haq, Hindustan Times, October 26, 2012): Sunil Abraham is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/daily-pioneer-columnists-oct-29-2012-apar-gupta-bolstering-right-to-remain-private">Bolstering right to remain private</a> (by Apar Gupta, The Pioneer, October 29, 2012): Pranesh Prakash is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><i>CIS was part of the expert committee even though not explicitly mentioned in these</i>: <a href="https://cis-india.org/news/newstrackindia-october-18-2012-suggests-law-to-protect-individual-privacy">Panel suggests law to protect individual privacy</a> (Newstrack India, October 18, 2012), <a href="https://cis-india.org/news/business-standard-october-18-2012-privacy-law-mooted-to-protect-people-against-misuse-of-info">Privacy law mooted to protect people against misuse of info</a> (Business Standard, October 18, 2012), <a href="https://cis-india.org/news/dna-india-october-19-2012-saikat-datta-experts-committee-moots-law-to-protect-privacy">Experts' committee moots law to protect privacy</a> (by Saikat Datta, Daily News & Analysis, October 19, 2012), <a href="https://cis-india.org/news/times-of-india-october-19-2012-govt-panel-wants-curbs-on-phone-taps">Govt panel wants curbs on phone taps</a> (The Times of India, October 19, 2012), <a href="https://cis-india.org/news/indianexpress-amitabh-sinha-october-19-2012-privacy-act-should-not-circumscribe-rti-expert-group">Privacy Act should not circumscribe RTI: expert group</a> (by Amitabh Sinha, Indian Express, October 19, 2012), <a href="https://cis-india.org/news/the-hindu-business-line-oct-18-2012-nine-point-code-set-out-to-safeguard-personal-information">Nine-point code set out to safeguard personal information</a> (Hindu Business Line, October 18, 2012), <a href="https://cis-india.org/news/zee-news-october-22-2012-privacy-law-mooted-to-protect-people-against-misuse-of-info">Privacy law mooted to protect people against misuse of info</a> (Zee News, October 18, 2012).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/livemint-october-18-2012-surabhi-agarwal-courts-approval-needed-to-tap-phones">Court’s approval needed to tap phones: Panel</a> (by Surabhi Agarwal, LiveMint, October 18, 2012): Sunil Abraham is quoted.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/first-post-pallavi-polanki-oct-11-2012-could-better-dna-testing-facilities-in-india-have-saved-the-talwars">Could better DNA testing facilities in India have saved the Talwars?</a> (by Pallavi Polanki, October 11, 2012): CIS press statement is mentioned.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom">Telecom</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">While the potential for growth and returns exist for telecommunications in India, a range of issues need to be addressed. One aspect is more extensive rural coverage and the other is a countrywide access to broadband which is low. Both require effective and efficient use of networks and resources, including spectrum:</p>
<h3><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/telecom-knowledge-repository/knowledge-and-capacity-around-telecom-policy">Building Knowledge and Capacity around Telecommunication Policy in India</a></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS and Ford Foundation joined hands to build expertise in the area of telecommunications in India. Dr. Surendra Pal, Satya N Gupta, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Payal Malik, Dr. Rakesh Mehrotra and Dr. Nadeem Akhtar are the expert reviewers. The following are the new outputs:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/telecom-knowledge-repository/spectrum-management">Spectrum Management</a> (by Snehashish Ghosh, October 31, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/home-1/telecom/telecom-knowledge-repository/cable-tv">Cable Television</a> (by Srividya Vaidyanathan, October 16, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Column in Business Standard</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/blog/organizing-india-blogspot-october-11-2012-shyam-ponappa-the-supreme-court-delivers">The Supreme Court Delivers</a> (by Shyam Ponappa in <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/shyam-ponappasupreme-court-delivers/488420/">Business Standard</a>, October 4, 2012 and <a href="http://organizing-india.blogspot.in/2012/10/the-supreme-court-delivers.html">Organizing India Blogspot</a>, October 11, 2012).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h3><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives">Digital Natives</a></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Digital Natives with a Cause? examines the changing landscape of social change and political participation in light of the role that young people play through digital and Internet technologies, in emerging information societies. Consolidating knowledge from Asia, Africa and Latin America, it builds a global network of knowledge partners who critically engage with discourse on youth, technology and social change, and look at alternative practices and ideas in the Global South:</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Newspaper Column</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/india-express-news-nishant-shah-oct-29-2012-the-rules-of-engagement">The Rules of Engagement</a> (by Nishant Shah, Indian Express, October 29, 2012).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<h2><a href="https://cis-india.org/raw">Researchers at Work</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS organised the Habits of Living Workshop in Bangalore from September 26 to 29, 2012. Three columns by Nishant Shah arising from these workshops were published in the month of October:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/blogs/habits-of-living/dml-central-blog-oct-22-2012-nishant-shah-habits-living-being-human-networked-society">Habits of Living: Being Human in a Networked Society</a> (DML, Central, October 22, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/blogs/habits-of-living/first-post-tech-oct-12-2012-nishant-shah-digital-habits-how-and-why-we-tweet-share-and-like">Digital Habits: How and Why We Tweet, Share and Like</a> (FirstPost, October 12, 2012).</li>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/blogs/habits-of-living/financial-express-october-23-2012-nishant-shah-who-s-that-friend">Who’s that Friend?</a> (Indian Express, October 23, 2012).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ul>
</ul>
<h2>*<a href="https://cis-india.org/about/">About CIS</a>*</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS was registered as a society in Bangalore in 2008. As an independent, non-profit research organisation, it runs different policy research programmes such as Accessibility, Access to Knowledge, Openness, Internet Governance, and Telecom. The policy research programmes have resulted in outputs such as the <a href="https://cis-india.org/advocacy/accessibility/blog/e-accessibility-handbook">e-Accessibility Policy Handbook for Persons with Disabilities</a> with ITU and G3ict, and <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/front-page/blog/dnbook">Digital Alternatives with a Cause?</a></span>, <a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/front-page/blog/position-papers">Thinkathon Position Papers</a> and the <a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/front-page/blog/digital-natives-with-a-cause-a-report">Digital Natives with a Cause? Report</a> with Hivos, etc. We conducted policy research for the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, etc., on <a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/cis-analysis-july2011-treaty-print-disabilities">WIPO Treaties</a>, <a href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blog/analysis-copyright-amendment-bill-2012">Copyright Bill</a>, <a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/front-page/blog/cis-feedback-to-nia-bill">NIA Bill</a>, etc. CIS is accredited as an observer at WIPO, and has given policy briefs to delegations from various countries, our Programme Manager, Nirmita Narasimhan won the <a href="https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-award">National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities</a> from the Government of India and also received the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://cis-india.org/news/nirmita-nivh-award">NIVH Excellence Award</a></span>.</p>
<p><b>*Follow us elsewhere*</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Get short, timely messages from us on Twitter</li>
<li>Join the CIS group on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/28535315687/">Facebook</a></li>
<li>Visit us at <a href="https://cis-india.org/">http://cis-india.org</a></li>
</ul>
<p><i>CIS is grateful to its donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation and the Kusuma Trust which was founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin, for its core funding and support for most of its projects.</i></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/october-2012-bulletin'>https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/october-2012-bulletin</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeDigital NativesTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceResearchers at Work2012-11-08T11:42:01ZPageThe Rules of Engagement
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/india-express-news-nishant-shah-oct-29-2012-the-rules-of-engagement
<b>Why the have-nots of the digital world can sometimes be mistaken as trolls. I am not sure if you have noticed, but lately, the people populating our social networks have started to be more diverse than before.</b>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify;">Nishant Shah's column was <a class="external-link" href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-rules-of-engagement/1022938/0">published in the Indian Express</a> on October 29, 2012.</p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify;">Oh, sure, we are still talking about a fairly middle-class hang-out that happens largely in English and is restricted to people in urban environments who have the economic and cultural capital of access. But if you browse through your friends’ lists and compare it with, say, the network from five years ago, you will realise that the age demography has changed quite dramatically. I am not suggesting that the Web was only the realm of the young – let us face it, the people who actually created the infrastructure of the Web were not tiny tots. However, with Web 2.0 at the turn of the millennium, we have had an extraordinary focus on young people online.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But as the networks grow to include more people, there are now a lot of people online, who might not be the 16-year-old BlackBerry-wielding digital native, nor be in the “business of internet” but are finding a space for themselves, tentatively and steadily negotiating with this new space. Some of it might be because, those of us who were new kids on the block in the Nineties, are now older by a decade and are still on the block, but replaced by newer kids around the block. Some of it might be because there is an ease of access as portable computing devices grow more personal and get more people to use their smartphones as a gateway into the online worlds. But a lot of it is actually because the fold of the Web is expanding. The digital spaces of conversation are being integrated into our everyday lives and practices, replacing older forms of media and information structures and processes of social and cultural belonging.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">And so, even though the penetration of the interwebz is not as rapid in countries like India as one would have hoped for, we do see a wide age group of people coming online, forming networks, and entering into conversations. I hadn’t really realised this, even though I was adding them to my social networks, that the digital immigrants are now here, and they are here to stay. It suddenly surfaced in my thoughts, because I recently heard a few narratives which made me dwell on the effort and the learning that one takes for granted but is a prerequisite for belonging to these new social spaces.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">One of the first complaints I heard was about a hostility that many digital immigrants face when they start engaging with the social media. They follow the manuals. They read the FAQs. They look at patterns, and learn. And yet, even when they seem to be doing what seems to be exactly what everybody else is doing, they are often told that they got it all wrong. This is bewildering for many, because they cannot really see the difference. And the reason is that the social web is governed by a whole lot of unwritten rules and codes, which clearly are the rites of passage into the online world. These are not things that can be taught. These are not written in a guideline that tells you how to behave on Facebook or how to sift through the live-streams on Twitter. It is a fiercely guarded set of dos and don’ts which clearly distinguish between the digital natives and the digital immigrants, reinforcing exclusivity and exclusion. And when the digital immigrant violates these rules, they are often faced with a sneer, a sarcastic comment, or a dismissal as “not with it”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The second thing I have repeatedly noticed is “calling troll” to people who do not always know these rules. Trolling is not new to the world of the internet. People who disrupt conversations and discussions by posting provocative or tangential information, by voicing hateful opinions, by passing harsh judgments, or sometimes by willfully breaking the rules of the communities, in order to seek attention and interrupt the flow of conversations are called trolls. Trolls are universally frowned upon and trolling wars often take up epic proportions because people get emotionally invested in them. Trolls are often shamed publicly, their mistakes brought into an embarrassing spot-light and ridiculed in back-channels or even in public discussions.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Calling somebody a troll presumes that the user is conversant with the rules of the game and is then breaking them, working with the idea that if you are online, you are naturally a digital native. The digital immigrants often create noob mistakes that can appear troll-like but are not intended to be so, and are often on the receiving end of a community’s hostility. And it is time, now that our online networks are growing, for us to realise that our presumptions about who is online need to change. If we are looking at an inclusive Web, we need to stop imagining that the person on the other side of the interface is necessarily like us, and develop new networks of nurture, which allows the digital immigrants safe spaces to experiment, make mistakes, and learn like the best of us. The next time, before you call somebody a troll, see if it might just be somebody learning the tricks of the trade. If they are doing something wrong, just politely point it out to them. And remember, acceptance is not only for people who are like us, but about people who are markedly unlike us.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/india-express-news-nishant-shah-oct-29-2012-the-rules-of-engagement'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/india-express-news-nishant-shah-oct-29-2012-the-rules-of-engagement</a>
</p>
No publishernishantDigital ActivismResearchers at WorkInternet GovernanceDigital Natives2015-04-24T11:48:54ZBlog EntryOne. Zero.
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/www-indianexpress-com-one-zero
<b>The digital world is the world of twos. All our complex interactions, emotional negotiations, business transactions, social communication and political subscriptions online can be reduced to a string of 1s and 0s, as machines create the networks for the human beings to speak. So sophisticated is this network of digital infrastructure that we forget how our languages of connection are constantly being transcribed in binary code, allowing for the information to be transmitted across the web. </b>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify;">Nishant Shah's article was <a class="external-link" href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/one.-zero./1003149/0">published</a> in the Indian Express on September 16, 2012</p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify;">Indeed, we have already reached a point where we don’t even need to be familiar with code to perform intimate functions with the machines that we live with, as they respond to us in human languages. While this human-machine duality has been resolved with the presence of intuitive and interactive interfaces that allow us to seamlessly connect to the person(s) at the other end of a digital connection, there is another binary that still remains at the centre of much discussion around all things digital.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is the duality of the Real and the Virtual. In geekspeak, this particular separation has been coded as a divide between RL (Real Life) and VR (Virtual Reality). This separation between the two is so naturalised that it has become a part of our everyday imagination where things that happen online are ‘out there’ and ‘an escape’ whereas things that are offline, are ‘real’ and ‘believable’. However, as digital technologies become pervasive and ubiquitous, these lines between RL and VR have blurred. Especially with new technologies of augmented reality and simulated layers like Google Goggles or even location-based services on your smartphone that help you navigate through the offline world, it is becoming difficult to clearly say what is online and what is offline.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There are two questions that help demonstrate this blurring of boundaries very clearly. The first is an existential one, something that doesn’t crop up often in conversations, but suddenly haunts you on at 2 pm on an idle Thursday: Who are you, when you are online? A famous cartoon on the web had two dogs sitting on a connected computer, their paws on the mouse, and telling each other, ‘On the internet, nobody knows you are a dog’. But in the hyper-connected world that we live in, everybody knows exactly who we are, even as we ourselves are confused about where our bodies end and where our digital extensions and avatars begin. Things that we do in RL affect and shape the ways in which our avatars evolve on social networking sites. The interactions that our avatars have with other digital objects map back on our understanding of who we are and how we dress our bodies. Even when we are not connected, our avatars interact, constantly, not only with other avatars in the system, but also machines and artificial intelligence scripts, and robots and networks, masquerading as ourselves even outside our knowledge. We might be tagged, liked, shared, transmitted and morphed; we might be photoshopped, reduced to a tweet, condensed to a status message, embodied in an avatar on our favourite role playing game, or hovering as a signature to emails. These are all parts of us, but they are not just extensions of us. These are things that not only stand in for us but also shape the ways in which we understand ourselves and how we connect to the world.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The second question crops up regularly in digitally mediated conversations. When your parents call you on the cell phone, or your friend messages you on the Blackberry, or your colleague pings you on Skype or your IRC buddies see you on a chat channel. As our modes of access have become mobile and devices of access have become portable, we can never really clearly answer the question, ‘Where are you right now?’. It is a question worth dwelling on. Where are you when you are walking down a street, using GPRS data on your cellphone, and a friend uses a Voice Over IP service like Whatsapp to ask you, ‘Where are you right now?’. Are you on the street? On your phone? On an application? Located somewhere on a server? Bits of data on a high-speed optic fibre, zooming across the ionosphere? Depending upon who is asking the question, you would be able to and in fact have to give a different answer about where you are when you are online.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This blurred duality might be seen as confusing, taking away the assurance of our body and our geography from everyday practices. In fact, one of the reasons why the digital revolution has been so well received is because these technologies facilitate an almost seamless transfer of ideas, emotions and connections across the different realms of RL and VR, offering us new ways of thinking about being human, being social, and being connected. The strength of the digital is in this coupling together, of the hitherto irreconcilable realms of our life in messy and enchanting ways, giving us new opportunities to think about who we are and where we are in our quotidian lives.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/www-indianexpress-com-one-zero'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/www-indianexpress-com-one-zero</a>
</p>
No publishernishantResearchers at WorkInformation TechnologyDigital Natives2015-04-24T11:50:32ZBlog EntryDeconstructing Digital Natives: Young People, Technology and the New Literacies
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/young-people-technology-new-literacies
<b>Nishant Shah was invited to do a book review of a new anthology 'Deconstructing Digital Natives', edited by Michael Thomas. The review was published in Routledge's Journal of Children and Media on July 18, 2012. </b>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Deconstructing Digital Natives: Young People, Technology and the New Literacies</em> is an anthology that revisits the debates and scholarship that have arisen around youth and technology in the last decade or so. It is a timely intervention that invites some of the most influential scholars who have contributed to and shaped the discourse around “digital natives” to come and revisit their original ideas from the last decade. The term “digital native” probably bears witness to the strident discourses that, more often than not, fall into the trap of exotically glorifying or despairingly vilifying young peoples’ engagement with digital technologies. As Buckingham points out in his foreword to the book, these conversations either take up the language of a “generation gap [that] entails a narrative of transformation and even of rupture, in which fundamental continuities between the past and the future have been destroyed” or they guise themselves in an “almost utopian view of technology—a fabulous story about technology liberating and empowering young people, enabling them to become global citizens, and to learn and communicate and create in free and unfettered ways” (p. ix). The essays seek a point of departure from these tried and tested arguments in order to provide a “balanced view” on the topic. And so we have a distinguished author list from the world of digital natives scholarship, coming together not only to ponder on their own contributions to the field and how those ideas need to be upgraded, but also to provide new contexts, concepts, and frameworks to understand who, or indeed, what, is a “digital native,” often in tension with their earlier work.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In its ambition of revisiting existing debates and providing a “research-based approach by presenting empirical evidence and argument from international researchers in the field,” the book succeeds unevenly (p. xi). Despite its efforts to chart a point of departure, some of the essays end up falling into some usual traps. For example, despite the fact that the oldest digital natives are probably in their thirties, they are thought of as being young. They are defined only as “students” within formal learning institutions without looking at the radical potential of learning outside organized education, embedded in their everyday practices. The digital natives remain an object of research and the peer-to-peer structures that are supposed to shape them, but do not feature in the methodologies of researching them. This notwithstanding, the essays still offer a historical and social perspective on the debates around digital natives in certain developed pockets of the world.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In the first section, “Reflecting on the Myth,” Thomas’ essay “Technology, Education and the Discourse of the Digital Native” introduces a tension between the techno-euphorists and the “digital luddites,” which replays itself through the rest of the contributions. While Thomas places himself between “technoevangelism” and “technoskepticism,” Prensky, who coined the term “Digital Natives” in 2001, then introduces to us a new binary of “digitally wise” and “digitally dumb” (p. 4). Prensky reviews the responses that his opposition of “digital natives” and “digital immigrants” have produced over the last decade and emphasizes that his coinage was at the level of a metaphor, and was not to be taken seriously. Prensky agrees that the earlier opposition might be discarded because it evokes too many simple responses based on skills with technology. Digital wisdom, for Prensky, is in the ways in which digital technologies enhance the human brain “to anticipate second- and third-order effects to which the unaided mind may be blind” as the world becomes too complex for the “unenhanced human brain” to cope with it (p. 23). Typically, Prensky’s argument creates a dichotomy of those who can (and will) and those who will be outside of this web of digital enhancements. His analysis tries to complicate the idea of human wisdom by looking at questions of ethics and agency, but the final formulations appear cliche´d, merely re-creating the older tensions rather than thinking through them. Jones’ following essay on the “Net Generation” is more persuasive, where he argues for dismissing the idea that “nature of certain technologies . . . <em>has affected the outlook of an entire age cohort</em> in advanced economies” and instead should unpack how “new technologies emerging with this generation have particular characteristics that <em>afford certain types of social engagement</em>” (p.42).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In the second section, titled “Perspectives,” the essays take up two different tones.The first is about looking at digital literacy, skill, and fluency in everyday practices of digital natives, and how they shape our contemporary and future sociopolitical and cultural landscapes. Banaji, in exploring the EU Civic Web Project, echoes Jones’ ideas. The presumptions within education about an entire generation as “born with technologies” has consequences in the field of civic action, where programs for citizen action are designed with expectations that the young people will have core digital competencies and literacy. She does not push that argument further, but in her study of the two Scottish e-initiatives, one can see the promise of a radical reconstruction of civic engagement movements, where the young participants are not going to be satisfied as mere participators, and will demand a space for their voice to be heard.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Takahashi’s essay on the <em>oyaubibunka</em> (“thumb culture”) mobile generations in Japan stands alone in its analysis of an Asian context—though many might argue that Japan, with its developed economy, can hardly be counted as a typically “Asian” perspective. Takahashi is rooted, both in practice and discourse, in youth and technology in Japan, where the youth often experience close-knit community experiences through mobile interfaces, in their otherwise alienated modern habitats. Almost as a response to Turkle’s Alone Together (2011), Takahashi shows how collaborative and cocreation cultures ranging from the mobile novels on Mixi to everyday interaction on Social Networking Systems is bringing in new kinds of social spaces of belonging. The essay, however, resists simply celebrating this space and works in complex ideas of freedom, control, risks, and the tensions between traditionalization and modernity in Japan.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Zimic and Dalin, writing from a similar heavily connected Nordic region, pose a different set of questions in their essay, “Actual and Perceived Online Participation Among Young People in Sweden.” For Zimic and Dalin, in a space where connectivity can be taken for granted, the further question to ask is not whether digital natives participate online or not, but whether they participate in ways that are expected of “a digital citizen in the information age” (p. 137). Through empirical data and case studies, the essay shows the different kinds of activities that youth engage with and also concludes that though engaging in civic issues is important to the young people’s sense of belonging to participatory cultures, using the Internet does not provide an “automatic guarantee” toward participation, and “assistance is required in order to engage them in relevant activities” (p. 148).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The second set of essays in this section all cluster around the digital native as a student. Locating the digital native within educational institutions, they look at the ways in which the ideas of learning, pedagogy and engagement with the text are changing with the rise of digital technologies. Levy and Michael look at two case studies involving students in Australian high schools, to “facilitate a deeper understanding of products and processes in multimodal text construction,” which they think is core to interactive communication technology literacy skills (p. 85). The data is rigorous and rich, but the conclusions are a bit of a disappointment: digital natives need to better manage their time and resources and they need to learn traditional skills in order to cope with their educational environment.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The trend of an exciting hypothesis and conclusion, which do not necessarily leave you with anything more than what you already knew, continues in this section. Erstad sets out on a journey to see how digital literacy posits challenges to educating the digital generation and ends by suggesting that the digital divide should address questions of “how to navigate in the information jungle on the Internet, to create, to communicate, and so forth” (p. 114). Similarly, Kennedy and Judd want to unravel the mystery of why “students, who are so clearly familiar and apparently adept with Internet tools, are at times so poor at using the Internet academically” (p. 119). Through empirical research and interaction with students, they end up making an argument against the Googlization of everything (Vaidhyanathan, 2011), suggesting that “satisficing strategies” of information search, defined by a need for instant gratification and not looking beyond the first information sets, has produced “a generation of students that has grown up with Google [who] may over-value expediency when locating and selecting appropriate scholarly information” (p. 132). On similar trends, Levy proposes to question the assumption of whether all “young children are inherently ‘native’ users of digital technology” for implications on our future pedagogy within the new textual landscape (p. 152). The case studies and the frameworks built are interesting, but they reveal nothing more than the claim that the essay begins with by Marsh et al. (2005) and Bearne et al. (2007) that “young children are immersed in ‘digital practices’ from an early age and that they often develop skills in handling screen texts even when they are not exposed directly to computers at their own homes” (Levy, 2011, p. 163). The implication is clear: change our schools to accommodate for these new textual practices and help children capitalize on their digital competence and develop “digital wisdom.” But it is a recommendation that has been around for at least a decade, if not more.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The third and concluding section of the book, “Beyond Digital Natives,” is possibly the most promising part of the book. Bennett and Maton seek to look beyond “nuanced versions of the idea” and move the debate on to firmer grounds of how the rise of the digital natives is going to affect the policies around educational technology” (p. 169). They engage with a body of work that is specifically oriented toward building empirical evidence-based frameworks for understanding the potential role of technology in education. With a fine conceptual tool that makes distinctions between access and usage, they systemically dismiss the “academic moral panic” that characterizes conversations around youth-technology-change.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For Bennett and Maton, the object of inquiry is not the digital native but the body of discourse that surrounds this particular entity—and they make a plea for research rather than imaginings, showing how the influential work in the area has been plagued by unsupported claims, unevidenced observations, and futuristic imaginations, which paint a poetic picture of digital natives but offer very little in terms of furthering the argument. It is also noteworthy that they do not flinch from critiquing the colleagues who also feature in the same book, as an idealizing and homogenizing group that has shown “diversity rather than conformity” (p. 181).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Palfrey and Gasser, whose <em>Born Digital</em> (2008) has been the guide for lay readers to understand the nuances and complexities of the area, in their essay, begin by acknowledging that “digital natives” is an awkward term. However, they argue, it is still a term that resonates deeply with parents and educators, and that this resonance should not be taken lightly by researchers. Their decision was to use this term, albeit with caution and discretion, strategically to refer to a small subset of young people and the gamut of relationships and engagements they have with digital technologies. The suggestion is to use the term and in every usage, look at the unevennesses and awkwardness it creates, thus actually unpacking an otherwise opaque relationship which is reduced to “usage” or “access.” Their concerns are more about the quality of information and access, infrastructure for critical literacy and digital fluency, and making legible these everyday practices to larger implications for a future that they posit is bright and hopeful.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Deconstructing Digital Natives</em> is an interesting revisit of a term that has grown in different ways through the first decade of the new millennium. However, the book still remains located in the same geopolitics in which the early discourse of digital natives were grounded—developed, privileged locations where connectivity, affordability, and ubiquitous digital literacy are taken for granted—reminiscent of the frantic cries one hears in piracy markets in Bangkok, “same, same, but different.” The revisiting does not seem to feel the need to explore other contexts. A few essays talk about factoring in local and contextual information in understanding digital natives, but the scholarship reinforces the idea of how technologies shape and are shaped by identities in some parts of the world, and that these identities can be heralded as universally viable, with a little nuancing.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The questions that have emerged in this discourse in the recent years, remain ignored. What does a digital native look like in the Global South? Can we have new concepts and frameworks which emerge from these contexts? Is it possible to produce accounts in languages and ideas that are embedded in everyday practices rather than forcing them to become legible in existing vocabularies? One would hope that the next book that deconstructs digital natives would also deconstruct the prejudices, presumptions, and methodological processes that are embedded in this field.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>References</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Bearne, E., Clark, C., Johnson, A., Manford, P., Motteram, M., & Wolsencroft, H. (2007). Reading on screen. Leicester: UKLA.</li>
<li>Marsh, J., Brookes, G., Hughes, J., Ritchie, L, Roberts, S., & Wright, K. (2005). <em>Digital beginnings: Young children’s use of popular culture, media and new technologies</em>. Sheffield: Literacy Research Centre, University of Sheffield.</li>
<li>Palfrey, J., & Gasser, U. (2008). <em>Born digital</em>. New York, NY: Basic Books.</li>
<li>Turkle, S. (2011). <em>Alone together: Why we expect more from technology and less from each other</em>, NY. New York: Basic Books.</li>
<li>Vaidhyanthan, S. (2011). <em>The Googlization of everything: (And why we should worry)</em>. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.</li>
<hr /></ol>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="visualHighlight">Nishant Shah is the Director-Research at the Bangalore-based Centre for Internet and Society. He is the principal researcher for a Global South inquiry into digital natives and sociopolitical change, and recently edited four-volume book, Digital AlterNatives with a Cause?, which is available as a free download at <a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/dnbook" class="external-link">http://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/dnbook</a>. Correspondence to: Nishant Shah, Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, India. E-mail: nishant@cis-india.org</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span class="visualHighlight">Download the file (originally published by Taylor & Francis) <a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/deconstructing-digital-natives" class="internal-link">here</a> [PDF, 66 Kb]</span></li></ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="visualHighlight">Read the original published by Taylor & Francis <a class="external-link" href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17482798.2012.697661">here</a></span></li></ul>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/young-people-technology-new-literacies'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/young-people-technology-new-literacies</a>
</p>
No publishernishantFeaturedResearchers at WorkBook ReviewDigital Natives2015-04-24T11:51:06ZBlog EntryCitizen Activism the Past Decade
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/citizen-activism-the-past-decade
<b>Call for Contributions to the ‘Digital Natives with a Cause?’ newsletter, ‘Citizen Activism the Past Decade’. Deadline: August 15, 2012.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The past decade (2001 – 2011) has been marked by unprecedented democratic protests across the globe. Not only have citizens risen against autocratic regimes or systemic corruption, which is not unprecedented in itself, but also, a spark in one region inflamed solidarity among neighbouring nations to pick up the placards and march for change. Plenty has been written about the strategic deployment of social media, Web 2.0 platforms and Smart-gadgets by the digital natives (the youth and the old alike) to rewrite the rules of citizen activism.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In this issue of the newsletter, we explore the mechanics of activism aided by media: web, social, digital, and traditional. What do we understand by a cause and how does it find resonance at the local and global platforms? Is the digital native a community player or a global citizen? How do digital natives connect, collaborate, mobilize and bring about their visions of change? The aim is to not establish or reinforce these dichotomies, if indeed they exist, but to understand the dimensions of the stage the digital natives operate on <em>and if that stage is a synecdoche for global youth-led civic action.</em> A case in point: <strong>‘Slut Walk’ </strong>moved from being a one-off march in Toronto to becoming a global movement and came full circle when small towns and cities across the world organized protest marches with a local ‘twist’.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Topics that contributors can explore:</h3>
<ol></ol>
<ul>
<li>What do we understand by citizen activism? How has citizen activism changed over the last 10 years with the advent of new media tools?</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Youth as 'change agents'. Are protest movements youth oriented today? How are civil rights movements of the past decade different from the wave of movements that marked the 60s? (women's lib, LGBT rights, civil rights, disability rights). Explore the mechanics of organizing, mobilizing and measuring the success of a campaign in both the cases.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Participatory Politics and Web 2.0 | Value and power of the Network in effecting change | Mobilizing support and consensus within the network |studies on politically active youth using social media | digital natives as apathetic citizens | Is Slacktivism still a misunderstood term?</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Kony 2012 video campaign | interviews | what went wrong and what did they do right? | Rise of DIY activism | mechanics of digital activism | resources, tools and strategies</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Rise of the ‘Glocal’ (global with local resonance) cause | Slut Walk and Co – global protests inspiring local campaigns | Children of globalization with global stakes supporting local causes – how does this work?</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Role of new media as a vehicle for civic engagement | Are new media and traditional media mutually exclusive in influencing citizen action? | How are new media strategies deployed by citizens in comparison with traditional media engagement?</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Learning from past campaigns: citizen activism initiates and strategies in history that inspire modern campaigns (The ‘Walk to Work’ protest in Uganda protesting against fuel price hike and removal of subsidies is similar to Mahatma Gandhi’s <em>Dandi</em> <em>March</em> in pre-independence India to protest against Salt Tax).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Finding commonalities in citizen activism across Asia, Africa and Middle East | Explore the citizen action campaigns that have shaped political discourse in the past decade | Explore some of the most successful youth action campaigns of the past decade </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">How do we measure value, quality and success of campaigns? When does a protest officially end? Studies that explore the life-cycle of a protest or movement </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">The future of activism: new technologies, new demography, new forms of engagement | art and activism | Gamification </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Role of non-governmental organizations and civil society networks in fostering political change | collaboration between NGOs and social media activists / independent protesters</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">State and the empowered citizen | State response to protest | surveillance and censorship</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Technologies of protest</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Studying citizen activism | digital native research methodology to study citizen activism</li></ul>
<ol></ol>
<p style="text-align: justify;">To know more about the topics you can write about, please write to: <a class="external-link" href="http://mailtonilofar.ansh@gmail.com">nilofar.ansh@gmail.com</a> (Nilofar Ansher, Community Manager). Contributions can be in the form of essays, notes, commentaries, reviews (book or paper), dialogues and chat transcript, poems, sketches / graphics. Essay word count between 800-1,600 words. Send your entries along with a brief bio and a profile picture by August 15, 2012.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">View previous issues of the 'Digital Natives with a Cause?' newsletter here: <a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/newsletter" class="external-link">http://cis-india.org/digital-natives/newsletter</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/citizen-activism-the-past-decade'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/citizen-activism-the-past-decade</a>
</p>
No publisherNilofar AnsherFeaturedResearchers at WorkDigital Natives2015-04-24T11:52:44ZBlog EntryRevisiting Techno-euphoria
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/revisiting-techno-euphoria
<b>In my last post, I talked about techno-euphoria as a condition that seems to mark much of our discourse around digital technologies and the promise of the future. The euphoria, as I had suggested, manifests itself either as a utopian view of how digital technologies are going to change the future that we inhabit, or woes of despair about how the overdetermination of the digital is killing the very fibre of our social fabric. </b>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a class="external-link" href="http://dmlcentral.net/blog/nishant-shah/revisiting-techno-euphoria">Published</a> in DML Central on July 5, 2012</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A way out of it, for some of us working with young people and their relationships with (as opposed to usage of) technologies, is to think of digital technologies as a paradigm through which everyday life is reconfigured, or as contexts within which we evolve new relationships of power and negotiation. Or to put it plainly, it has forced us to think of digital technologies not in terms of tools and gadgets, infrastructure and logistics (though those are also important) but as embodied experiences that reshape the very ways in which we conceptualize our everyday life.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When we talk of digital natives in India, the immediate spaces that they inhabit conjure up images of big crowded IT cities that are transforming into hubs of international outsourcing industries and IT development. We presume that digital natives would be found in the 12% of the Indian sub-continent where broadband access is available. We often narrow our focus to look at urban, middle class, affluent, English speaking, educated youth who occupy extremely privileged positions in their social, cultural and economic practice.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">However, the story* I want to share with you today comes from an unusual location in India – from the village of Banni in the desert region of Kutch, located at the North-Western borders of India and Pakistan. In this small village that is about 80 kilometers from the biggest town with amenities like hospitals and schools, almost every household has a smart phone with access to the internet. In the absence of more popular forms like radio, which are disallowed because of the proximity to the turbulent India-Pakistan borders, the Chinese-made smart phones become the de facto interface of communication and cultural production. The phones become not only the life-line in times of crises, but also everyday objects through which the villages stay connected with the world of cultural production and entertainment. The internet services on the phones allow them to access Bollywood songs and movies, images and games, popular television programming and other popular cultural products in the country. In many ways, Banni is probably more digitally connected than many parts of the larger cities in the country.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">However, the strong influence of Islam in this fairly homogenized community means differential access for the people who live in it. Women, according to the village doctrines, are not allowed access to technologies for fear of corruption. Hence the smart phones are all exclusively owned by men who have complete access to the information highway whereas the women do not have immediate ownership of such interfaces. And yet, the women in the village are quite updated about the latest news, gossip, politics, information about the weather, and cultural productions like TV soaps and Bollywood movies. This discrepancy between lack of access to digital technologies on the one hand, and a fairly comprehensive access to information of their choice is perplexing at first. Till you turn your attention to the children, who, in their pre-pubertal space, are not segregated so clearly into the technology publics and privates, and hence can navigate the spaces which are otherwise so gender exclusive.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">These children would not usually be recognized as digital natives because they are not particularly tech savvy and they do not have direct and unlimited access to the digital devices or connectivity. However, they become interfaces through which the information consumed by the male population permeates and travels to the female population in the village. The children become embodied interfaces, who imbibe the information from these digital devices and re-enact it for the women in their own private spaces. The village now has its own child-stars who not only pass on the local news and information, but also re-enact, on a daily basis, scenes, songs, and story-lines from the soaps and movies that are popular with the women in the village.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">While the gendered politics of technology access and the creative ways in which children are able to work as embodied interfaces is interesting – and perhaps needs more space than is afforded here – what remains interesting to me is how this story disrupts the regular narratives of techno-euphoria. It cannot be explained away merely in terms of usage. It cannot be used to claim radical social change in community and gendered relationships. It is difficult to make a technology-empowerment argument though this. What is perhaps most interesting is that it shows how we need to start thinking about digital technologies as producing new ecosystems that reconfigure our understanding of who we are and the roles we play in developing social relationality. The digital natives in these stories are not merely the children – though their embodied interface produces startling insights into how personal relationships with technologies are produced. The men who have access to the phones and have mastered digital literacy in navigating through these phones, the women who become the last-mile consumers who have found creative ways of staying connected despite their lack of access, and the children who become the nodes in this technology-information infrastructure, are all digital natives of a certain kind. They might not have claimed that identity and indeed might never want to. And yet, the very conditions of everyday life, as they are mediated by the presence of digital technologies in Banni, help us understand the social structures and information relationships in ways which are more complex than theorized by our techno-euphoric attention to network visualizations which are heavily determined by usage and action.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This story from Banni is layered and needs unpacking at many different levels. However, it shall always remain, for me, a catalyst to re-think the focus and framework of our technology discourse, and talk about digitally mediated identities (digital natives or otherwise) in a vocabulary that moves beyond usage, infrastructure and access. It emphasizes, for me, the idea that the gadgets and tools we use are, actually, only material manifestations of the digital -- which operates at the level of a paradigm or a context, through which we are slowly reshaping the material, social, and cultural notions of who we are and how we connect to the world around us.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Read Nishant's last post <a class="external-link" href="http://dmlcentral.net/blog/nishant-shah/techno-euphoria">here</a><br />Link to the picture <a class="external-link" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pranavsingh/1311922613/">here</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">* <em>I am greatly thankful to my friend Rita Kothari at the Indian Institute of Technologies, Gandhinagar, for first introducing me to this context and its peculiar technology ecosystem</em>.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/revisiting-techno-euphoria'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/revisiting-techno-euphoria</a>
</p>
No publishernishantDigital subjectivitiesResearchers at WorkDigital Natives2015-04-24T11:53:49ZBlog EntryAcross Borders
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/across-borders
<b>A friend and I were at a cafe in Bangalore the other day, when an acquaintance walked in. After the initial niceties, and invitation to join us for coffee, the new person looked at us and asked a question that sounded so archaic and so unexpected that we had no answers for it: How do you two know each other? This innocuous question threw us both off the loop because we didn’t have an immediate answer. </b>
<p>Nishant Shah's <a class="external-link" href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/across-borders/970341/">article</a> was published in the Indian Express on July 5, 2012</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">How do we two know each other? My story would begin with Livejournal — a community-based blogging platform that was popular in the early Noughties and was the first large-scale digital network I belonged to, and where I spoke with and befriended people writing in that closed social network. My friend probably pins it down to Twitter and how our blogging-friendship solidified through the charms of 140-character direct messages. There is another story somewhere, that we discovered later, when we added each other on Facebook and realised that we have a few close friends in common. Over the last many years, we have also worked together on a couple of projects, have caught up IRL (In Real Life) whenever we visit each others’ cities — Mumbai and Bangalore — and have thought of ourselves as friends, without trying to form a narrative that identifies the point of origin.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When you compare this state of being, which is increasingly the default mode of being for many young people who cement their relationships through digital connections, with how we used to get to know people even two decades ago, we know that things have changed dramatically. For the longest time, the act and fact of knowing somebody was to find physical, material and communitarian similarities — filters that allowed us to hobnob with others like us. Of course, we were always progressive and cosmopolitan, but a quick sweep of any social circle would show that we were mostly confined to people who shared common stories with us. Sometimes these stories were of material proximity, we grew up in the same neighbourhoods, went to the same schools, etc. Sometimes these stories were of class and affordability, we belonged to the same clubs and hung out at similar places. Sometimes these stories were about an imaginary sameness, of religion, community, family etc.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If there is a truly democratising principle that the digital revolution brought to the fore, it can be seen in this destabilising of an older world order, where we are quite comfortable in coexisting and embracing those who are unlike us. I do not mean this to be a celebratory moment where the flat, non-discriminatory and inclusive societies are finally being built. Indeed, the digital networks have their own set of filters that eventually allow us to connect only with people of the same ilk. If you are online in India, you are necessarily talking to people who speak in a particular language and speak it in a particular way. Grammar, diction, fluency, references to global cultural icons and productions, consumption-based lifestyles, all betray the different locations (physical or otherwise) that people come from and serve as extremely strong filters to determine who we connect with.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This, sometimes, even translates into gadget snobbery. For example, a young friend told me that she finds it impossible to connect with people who don’t have a BlackBerry phone because she doesn’t know how she can sustain relationships without being constantly in touch through the BlackBerry Messenger. Similarly, the celebration of social applications like Instagram, which were available only to iPhone users, warns us that there are severe economic, social, cultural and political prejudices that abound in cyberspaces.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">However, in the middle of these complications, digital natives are not only a mobile-wielding generation, but also a mobile generation. They are fluid, not necessarily tied to the geographies of their origin, and often imagine themselves, as travelling across different networks and systems, like the information traffic on the internet. This dislocation of the fixity of where we are from and who we are, is one of the most exciting results of the digital turn. The fact that we are able to not only step out of these older networks, which are often entrenched in old-world politics that perpetuate mindless discrimination, but also fabricate new communities and collectives that bring together a diversity, for me, is heartening. While these new social forms will have their own set of problems — gendered, social, linguistic and class-based — they are also the new forms of our socio-cultural being. And there is hope that as the physical translates into the digital, there is a possibility of reconfiguring our pasts and recycling them for more collaborative and shared futures.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/across-borders'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/across-borders</a>
</p>
No publishernishantResearchers at WorkDigital Natives2015-04-24T11:55:41ZBlog EntryThe Bots That Got Some Votes Home
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/bots-got-some-votes-home
<b>Nilofar Ansher gives us some startling updates on the "Digital Natives Video Contest" voting results declared in May 2012, in this blog post.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It was a hint of suspicion raised by one of our colleagues at the Centre for Internet & Society that spurred our Web Analytics team to check into the voting activity of the contest that was all about the ‘<a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/vote-for-digital-natives" class="external-link">Everyday Digital Native</a>’. And while we acknowledged and celebrated the ‘digital’ in the native (users of technology), we forgot the human part that the digital has to engage with. Following weeks of deliberations, we now have conclusive evidence that points to irregularities in voting numbers of the Top 10 contestants. We are now staring at the elephant in the room: those innocuous little automated scripts we sweetly nicknamed, ‘bots’.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Internet bots, also known as web robots or simply bots, are software applications that run automated tasks over the Internet. Typically, bots perform tasks that are both simple and structurally repetitive, at a much higher rate than would be possible for a human alone. The largest use of bots is in web spidering, in which an automated script fetches, analyzes and files information from web servers at many times the speed of a human. Each server can have a file called robots.txt, containing rules for the spidering of that server that the bot is supposed to obey. In addition to their uses outlined above, bots may also be implemented where a response speed faster than that of humans is required (e.g., gaming bots and auction-site robots) or less commonly in situations where the emulation of human activity is required, for example chat bots (Source: Wikipedia).</p>
<h3>What irregularities?</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">You would see how a script or bot would have played a role in ‘automating’ the votes for a video. The Top 10 videos received a combined voting number of 20,000+. The discrepancy occurs at the juncture where the votes polled on the front end (the webpage where the contestant video was visible to the public) did not match with the number of hits the page received on the backend (this is the analytics part). For instance, the top polled video has some few thousand votes more than the number of people who actually visited our CIS website in the same duration. This prompted a review of the logs and the possible “hand” of a nonhuman agent acting on its human creator’s command to drive up the votes.</p>
<h3>How was this done? The Technicalities</h3>
<p>The following graph shows the extremely high level of voting requests just before the closing date (March 31, 2012). This would not be extraordinary except for the fact that two or three entries had an exceptionally higher vote count relative to their page views as per the analytics statistics.</p>
<p><img src="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/scripted-voting-report/quickhist_march_april.png" alt="null" class="image-inline" title="Voting requests by date" /></p>
<h3>Analysis of the voting against the http requests for the voting link against page views</h3>
<div>
<table class="vertical listing">
<tbody>
<tr style="text-align: center;">
<th>
<p>Entry</p>
</th>
<th>Actual Votes Recorded (1)<br /></th>
<th>Direct http requests to votes (2)<br /></th>
<th>http requests for normal page view access (3)<br /></th>
<th>Recommended adjusted vote count (4)<br /></th>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/digital-media-dance" class="internal-link">Digital Dance</a></p>
</td>
<td>268</td>
<td>448</td>
<td>198</td>
<td><span class="visualHighlight">198</span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/big-stories-small-towns" class="internal-link">Big Stories, Small Town</a></p>
</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>112</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/digital-natives-contest/entries/connecting-souls-bridging-dreams" class="internal-link">Connecting Souls, Bridging Dreams</a></p>
</td>
<td>1113</td>
<td>2018</td>
<td>1685</td>
<td>1113</td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/finalist-summary/deployed" class="internal-link">Deployed</a></p>
</td>
<td>191</td>
<td>479</td>
<td>195</td>
<td>191</td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p class="internal-link"><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/from-the-wild-into-the-digital-world" class="internal-link">From The Wild Into The Digital World</a></p>
</td>
<td>10317</td>
<td>11880</td>
<td>810</td>
<td><span class="visualHighlight">810</span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/i-am-a-ghetto-digital-native" class="internal-link">I Am A Ghetto Digital Native</a></p>
</td>
<td>321</td>
<td>365</td>
<td>844</td>
<td>321</td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/life-in-the-city-slums" class="internal-link">Life in the City Slums</a></p>
</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>18</td>
<td>94</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/who-is-a-digital-native" class="internal-link">Digital Natives</a></p>
</td>
<td>111</td>
<td>328</td>
<td>102</td>
<td><span class="visualHighlight">102</span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/with-no-distinction" class="internal-link">With No Distinction</a></p>
</td>
<td>369</td>
<td>557</td>
<td>1232</td>
<td>369</td>
</tr>
<tr style="text-align: right;">
<td>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/entries/digital-coverage-in-a-digital-world" class="internal-link">Digital Coverage in a Digital World</a></p>
</td>
<td>9622</td>
<td>13650</td>
<td>181</td>
<td><span class="visualHighlight">181</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3></h3>
<span class="internal-link"> </span>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify;">These are the public votes displayed on the contestant’s page through the thumbs up icon</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">These are http requests to the voting link against each video when the user clicked on the thumbs up icon.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">These are http requests which are collectively related to the video page (page view). A normal human user would browse through a page first, which downloads some other urls, such as the HTML for the page, JavaScript, images, and so on. A normal vote request would be included collectively. A direct http request to the voting link on the other hand does not do this, and only makes a specific request to vote without downloading the other parts that make up the page.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">A normal human vote count should be the same or less than the number of page views. Only three videos highlighted show abnormal behaviour and it is recommended these be adjusted to the page view counts.</li></ol>
<h3>Are you saying contestants cheated?</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">While the use of programming scripts to accrue votes is no new tactic and we should, in fact, have a more robust mechanism to monitor such activity during a contest, we cannot prove the culpability of the human agents. The contestants might be innocent actors with overzealous friends or colleagues who ran the voting scripts. As of now, since there is no way to ascertain their part in this irregularity, it’s best we give them the benefit of the doubt. What comes through loud and clear is that once you do away with the scripted votes, four contestants still manage to have enough votes to maintain their positions in the final five. In the fifth position, we now have a contestant from the top ten finalists, who has secured the requisite votes (after vote adjustment) to propel him into the final five.</p>
<h3>Recommendation</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">‘Digital Dance’ (Cijo Abraham), ‘From the Wild into the Digital World’ (John Musila) and ‘Digital Coverage in a Digital World’ (T.J. Burks) had additional vote url counts than page views. It is recommended that the total votes for these videos be adjusted to the page view counts, and not the actual vote counts as displayed on their individual web pages (thumbs up icon) during the voting period.</p>
<p>The rankings of the adjusted voting would now read as:</p>
<ol>
<li>Connecting Souls, Bridging Dreams – Marie Jude Bendiola (1113)</li>
<li>From The Wild Into The Digital World - John Musila (810)</li>
<li>With No Distinction - T.J. K. M. (369)</li>
<li>I Am A Ghetto Digital Native – MJ (321)</li>
<li>Digital Dance – Cijo Abraham (198)</li></ol>
<h3>Transparency at CIS</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">‘The Digital Natives with a Cause?’ research inquiry is shaped around concerns of transparency, equity and community accountability. In our research methods as well as in outputs of the different activities, we have always maintained a complete transparency of decision making processes as well as in depending upon the incredible people we work with to help us learn, grow and reflect openly on the concerns that we have been engaged with. We strive to follow this method and in publishing these statistics, we want to ensure that there is complete transparency about the votes that were accrued and how the final winners were selected. We also take this opportunity as a learning experience to re-think the question of the non-human actors in our networks and further about the nature of participation and reputation online. We hope that the publishing of these results will help answer any inquiries on how the process unfolded.</p>
<h3>View Logs and Source Code</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/scripted-voting-report/logs-during-voting-period" class="external-link">All logs from the web server for this period</a> (24.7MB) Identical IPs are from caching server.</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://www.cis-india.org/digital-natives/video-contest/scripted-voting-report/main.R">R script to evaluate data for table</a></li></ul>
<h3>What next?</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Since we spotted the error in time, we haven’t disbursed the prize money of EUR 500 to each of the Top 5 contestants. They will now receive the prize along with a chance to participate in the Digital Native workshop-cum-Webinar, slated to be held in July 2012. The top 10 videos will be showcased in this event.</p>
</div>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/bots-got-some-votes-home'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/bots-got-some-votes-home</a>
</p>
No publisherNilofar AnsherFeaturedResearchers at WorkDigital Natives2015-04-24T11:56:10ZBlog EntryHyper-connected, Hyper-lonely?
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/hyper-connected-hyper-lonely
<b>The Digital Natives newsletter, part of the 'Digital Natives with a Cause?' project, invites contributions to its April-May 2012 double issue. </b>
<p>The April issue puts the spotlight on an emerging trope in society and media: the more connected we are to our gadgets, peer network and social media, the lonelier we feel. The debate, which traces its opening volley to Sherry Turkle's book 'Alone Together', will look at the recurrent media commentary that points to pop-surveys, anecdotes from psychologists, and conscientious academics who talk about increasing isolation among heavy gadget users. Since our gadgets are more often than not net enabled, it doesn't take a giant leap to infer that people who spend a lot of time online count themselves as part of the Lonely Hearts Club. Is loneliness a peculiarly modern phenomenon? <br />Editor: Shobha Vadrevu </p>
<p>In the May issue, we look at a technology that was considered sci-fi a decade ago, but is now the next best thing since our Smartphones: Augmented Reality. How do scientists and geeks go about augmenting our reality? How inspirational have movies (remember Minority Report) been in engaging imagination with what is commonplace and common sense? Does Google Glass excite you or scare you senseless? Would you still make distinctions between the virtual world and the real one? <br />Editor: Nilofar Ansher </p>
<p>We invite short pieces, lengthy reflections, haikus and verses, cartoons, graphics, videos, and other forms of creative expressions for both the issues. Deadline: June 21, 2012. For more information, email: <a class="external-link" href="mailto:nilofar.ansh@gmail.com">nilofar.ansh@gmail.com</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/hyper-connected-hyper-lonely'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/hyper-connected-hyper-lonely</a>
</p>
No publisherNilofar AnsherFeaturedResearchers at WorkDigital Natives2015-04-24T11:57:46ZBlog EntryDigitally Analogue
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/digitally-analogue
<b>Why there is nothing strictly analogue anymore, examines Nishant Shah in this column that he wrote for the Indian Express.</b>
<p>It is a given, that in the fight between the digital and the analogue, you have a certain perspective or an opinion. If you are a bibliophile and crave for the smell of second-hand books and the feel of freshly uncut pages, you probably object to e-readers and tablets which give you a book-like experience that is not quite the same. If you enjoy photography, you still value old film rolls, techniques of complex editing, and the sepia-coloured flatness that the film has to offer. If you are a cinegoer, you cherish a secret fondness for those days when the camera attempted to capture a realism which was stark and more believable than reality. You might miss receiving and writing letters, might get annoyed by the lightning fast expectations of communication, and are horror struck at the idea of buying clothes online, foregoing the pleasures of window shopping.</p>
<p>For each argument that is made in favour of the analogue, there will be an equally strong and strident voice that elucidates the joys and possibilities that the digital has to offer. The techno-savant will point out that the easy availability of digital technologies has democratised the realms of cultural production, granting more access and diversity to expressions from different cultures. It should be mentioned that the huge possibilities of manipulating, reproducing and transferring digital data, without any loss to the original has resulted in new forms of intricate and subversive cultural production. The speed of access and communication has mobilised resources and people in unprecedented ways, to make changes in their environments, empowering the citizen as an agent of change rather than a beneficiary of change.</p>
<p>In all these debates, there will be valid and contradictory arguments that will coexist, each extolling the virtues of their analogue or digital positions. While there is no correct position to take in this debate, there is something else that I want to draw our attention to. In both these debates, which seem to be about technologies, there is a presumed focus only on consumption of technology products. Or, in other words, in this over-emphasis about whether the final product should be consumed using digital or other technologies, there is a complete and total neglect of technologies of production that shape these cultural objects. This betrays two things for us to ponder over.</p>
<p>The first is about our relationship with the technologies that we use. As technologies, especially digital technologies become ubiquitous, easily affordable and available to us on mobile interfaces, and emphasises ease of access, there also seems to be an alienation of the user from conditions and modes of production. We seem to position ourselves only as consumers of tech products — often reducing our interaction with these technologies as spectators, or audiences or users. This is ironical because, it seems to perpetuate the schism between the digital and the analogue, while actually hiding the fact that most of our so-called analogue products have undergone dramatic change in their modes of production, which are facilitated and shaped almost entirely by digital technologies. You might enjoy the tactical experience of picking up a print book, but it might be good to realise that the entire book was put together by using digital interfaces. And while the book might seem to be a non-digital object, even the way it reaches the last mile — through e-commerce websites like Flipkart, or even your local stores, where it gets stored, sorted, and indexed — is also through a digital environment.</p>
<p>The second thing that this faux debate exposes to us is the futuristic dream of convergence. Convergence as a concept has been bandied around for about a decade now, where all our existing modes of living, facilitated by different technologies, are to be translated into the digital, thus seamlessly available through a single device which can perform everything. Convergence is the Holy Grail that marks our aspirations of the future. And debates of the analogue versus the technological sustain that illusion that it hasn’t really been achieved yet. However, as you look around you, you quickly realise that the analogue networks that we fantasise about very rarely exist. The analogue-digital divide is often reduced to the physical-virtual dichotomy and this is a false one. Analogue referred to certain kinds of technological practices where the human agent, by using the technological network could perform certain functions. So the older telephone networks, for instance, were electronic but analogue. However, our telecommunication went digital way before the phone became smart.</p>
<p>While those of us who were not born digital natives — we still remember what an audio cassette looks like and the smell of screen printing — will negotiate with the form of our access to cultural objects, it is also time to realise that being non-digital is no longer an option. And that what we think of as analogue, is often only a form, because the mode of production, design and distribution has gone digital when we were not looking. So it is good that you are reading this in print, as a part of a newspaper, but this column (like all other items in this publication) was conceived, written, delivered and printed entirely using digital interfaces. These are objects which now need to be thought of as digitally analogue. </p>
<p><a class="external-link" href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/digitally-analogue/953982/0">Read the original published by the Indian Express on May 27, 2012</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/digitally-analogue'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/digitally-analogue</a>
</p>
No publishernishantcyberspacesResearchers at WorkDigital Natives2015-04-24T12:00:09ZBlog EntryWe Are All Cyborgs
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/we-are-cyborgs
<b>The cyborg reminds us that who we are as human beings is very closely linked with the technologies we use.</b>
<p><a class="external-link" href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/we-are-all-cyborgs/942874/0">Nishant Shah's article was published in the Indian Express on April 29, 2012</a></p>
<p>If you look at any illustrated
history of human civilisation, you will quickly realise that it is also a
history of technology. From the discovery of fire by Homo sapiens to
the contemporary homo digitalis, there is no escaping that technologies
of different kinds have not only changed the way we live but also helped
us realise what it means to be human. Often, we treat these
technologies as external to us, thinking of them as tools that we deploy
to perform a particular task. However, as our technologies become more
transparent, intimate and customised, we realise that we are developing
relationships with the technological devices that surround us. So, if
your laptop crashes, you feel crippled. There are people who proclaim
that they feel amputated without their cellphone. It is quite reasonable
to feel lost without the information compass of the internet.</p>
<p>This
relationship between human beings and technologies has been very
concisely defined in the idea of a cyborg. A cyborg is a
human-technology synthesis which enhances our capacities to live as
human beings. While it might seem like a slightly new idea, once you
realise that we constantly live with technologies and often internalise
them in our bodies, it is not difficult to wrap our head around it.
Think of people with pacemakers or prosthetic limbs or different
implants in their bodies, who experience technologies as an integral
part of their everyday life. Similarly, think of the wide range of
technology apparatus that you depend on to live a “regular” human life.
We have also seen iconic cyborg representations in popular movies — from
the absolutely unforgettable Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2 to
our very own dimpled Shah Rukh Khan as Ra.One — there has been a
persistent imagining of the human being as we know it, evolving to
become some sort of a super man, enhanced by advancements in digital
technologies of virtual reality.</p>
<p>There
has been a growing anxiety, almost a moral panic, about how
technologies are alienating us, replacing face-time with inter-face time
so that we are all growing “alone together”. There is also, across
generations and users, a growing separation of those who work with
technologies and those who don’t. There is much concern about the human
becoming corrupt because of the ubiquitous presence of the pervasive and
invasive technologies around us. In the face of these anxieties, the
cyborg stands as a culturally significant and timely reminder that we,
as human beings, are very closely linked with the technologies that we
use. And that we need to stop thinking of technologies as merely gadgets
and tools that surround us. The different objects that remind us of the
presence of technology are not the same thing as technology itself.
Technology is a way of thinking about things, a way of relating to the
world around us. The most intrinsic forms of technologies are the ones
that we don’t even recognise as a part of our innate mental make up.</p>
<p>Do
this simple experiment. Right now, while you are reading this, do not
look at any clock or time-measuring device and guess what time it is.
Chances are that you will be, give or take a few minutes, more or less
accurate. Even if you are temporally challenged, you will at least know
what part of the day it is, morning, afternoon, evening or night. The
point is that we are absolutely and completely creatures of time. We
cannot think of ourselves outside of it and even when we might be
dramatically wrong about it, there is no escaping the fact that we are
always thinking of ourselves and the world around us through time.</p>
<p>We
experience our lives and our relationships in cyclical notions of the
clock’s face, thinking of our actions as borrowed from the future, lived
in the present, and relegated to the archives of the past. It then,
must come as a bit of a shock (it certainly did to me, the first time I
was made to realise it) that time is not natural. Time is a human way of
measuring a passage of actions. Time is a technology which has now
become such a potent metaphor of life that we have forgotten to make the
separation of the human and the technological.</p>
<p>And
thus, whether you might be a tech-savvy digital native or a
byte-fearing luddite, there is no denying the idea that when it comes to
technologies of time, you are already a natural born cyborg. This
ability of technologies to become transparent and an inalienable part of
who we are forms cyborgs. The process through which they become
transparent is not easily accessible, but it does begin by an
internalisation of the technology’s processes in our everyday
vocabulary. So the next time you think of yourself as a system that
needs to be upgraded, or unable to pay attention because you don’t have
enough bandwidth, remember that you are engaging in a flirtatious
relationship with the digital. And slowly, but surely, we are all
turning into cyborgs, as the new technologies rearrange patterns of our
life and living.</p>
<p><em>digitalnative@expressindia.com</em></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/we-are-cyborgs'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/we-are-cyborgs</a>
</p>
No publishernishantCyborgsResearchers at WorkDigital Natives2015-04-24T12:00:54ZBlog EntryFraming the Digital AlterNatives
https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/framing-the-digital-alternatives
<b>They effect social change through social media, place their communities on the global map, and share spiritual connections with the digital world - meet the everyday digital native. </b>
<p>The Everyday Digital Native video contest has got its pulse on what makes youths from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds connect with one another in the global community – it’s an affinity for digital technologies and Web 2.0-mediated platforms coupled with a drive to spearhead social change. The contest invited people from around the world to make a video that would answer the question, ‘Who is the Everyday Digital Native’? The final videos received more than <del>20,000</del> 3,000 votes from the public and our top five winners emerged from across three continents!</p>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/framing-digital-alternatives" class="internal-link" title="Framing the Digital Alternatives">The Digital AlterNatives Featurette </a>(PDF, 2847 KB) is a peek into the minds of digital natives as citizen activists. The 10 featured interviews of the Digital Natives video contest finalists don't fit the stereotype of the Globalized Digital Native: Young Geeks apathetic to 'Saving the Planet'. Rather, these are affirmative citizens, young, middle aged and senior, who consider digital technology as second nature for use in personal, professional or socio-political capacities.</p>
<p>The 'Digital Natives with a Cause?' is a collaborative research-inquiry between The Centre for Internet & Society, India and HIVOS Knowledge Programme, the Netherlands into the field of youth, change and technology in the context of the Global South. The three-year research project has resulted in the four-book collective, 'Digital AlterNatives with a Cause?' published in 2011. Read more about the project <a href="https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/blog/dnbook" class="external-link">here</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/framing-the-digital-alternatives'>https://cis-india.org/digital-natives/framing-the-digital-alternatives</a>
</p>
No publisherNilofar AnsherFeaturedWeb PoliticsResearchers at WorkDigital Natives2015-05-08T12:28:03ZBlog Entry