Information Policy

Remarks to the Freedom Online Conference opening session

by Rebecca MacKinnon

In June 2013 shortly after the first Snowden revelations on NSA surveillance came out, I gave a keynote address to the Freedom Online Conference in Tunis. Three years later I’ve been asked to address this morning’s opening session of the Freedom Online Conference in Costa Rica. Below are the remarks I’ve written out in advance.  I will update this post later with hyperlinks and revise it to reflect any impromptu changes I make during delivery.

Lessons from Seoul: How eGovernment can drive citizen engagement

Scott Moore, business analyst for the Scottish Improvement Service, won a Socitm scholarship to research digital public service trend in Seoul during the summer. Here he looks back on he learnt during his summer investigating the city’s digital transformation.

The majority of the world’s population currently live in urban areas, which brings with it a myriad of socio-economic challenges. In an effort to deal with these challenges, cities are investing in smart city technologies to improve standards of living, efficiencies, governance and economic growth.

Internet and Development: A Reality-Check

By Constance Bommelaer de Leusse and Tereza Horejsova

How can we create a more inclusive Internet? What are the practical steps we can take to expand global connectivity? This week, leaders from some of the Internet’s main organisations and businesses, together with the World Bank, are gathering in Washington D.C. to discuss these questions. Why? Because bringing people online is one of the most powerful tools for development, and the world has finally woken up to see it.

Continue reading "Internet and Development: A Reality-Check" »

Around the world, digital technology is seen as vital for economic development. In the U.S. alone, the internet accounts for about six percent of the entire economy. Digital technology has expanded its role in the global economy in recent years, as both developed and developing nations have become increasingly reliant on the internet.

By most standards, the Internet is a raging success. There are now more than 3 billion users, a figure that's tripled in just 10 years. By 2019, global Internet commerce is expected to total $28 trillion, or one-eighth of all the sales in the world. The Big Connect has brought more prosperity, better health and education, and closer social ties. What it has not brought - despite early predictions - is more global freedom.

Internet shutdowns cost countries $2.4 billion last year

Around the world, digital technology is seen as vital for economic development. In the U.S. alone, the internet accounts for about six percent of the entire economy. Digital technology has expanded its role in the global economy in recent years, as both developed and developing nations have become increasingly reliant on the internet.

Will the Internet ever be as free as air?

By most standards, the Internet is a raging success. There are now more than 3 billion users, a figure that's tripled in just 10 years. By 2019, global Internet commerce is expected to total $28 trillion, or one-eighth of all the sales in the world. The Big Connect has brought more prosperity, better health and education, and closer social ties. What it has not brought - despite early predictions - is more global freedom.