1. The Social Affordances of New Media and Communication Technologies: Encouraging Civic Engagement, Good Governance and Democratisation? Thomas Hughes Deputy Director International Media Support Roskilde University, 7 October 2010 The Role of Web-based Media and Digital Communications in Mobilizing Freedom and Repressing Dissent

2. The Satirical Donkey

3. Online Petition & Today.az http://videopetition.blogspot.com www.today.az/news/society/55308.html

4. Do Web-based Media and Digital Communications Mobilize Freedoms or Repress Dissent?

5. The ‘Big Assumptions’ about Web-based Media & Digital Communications 1.They reinforce participatory governance and undermine authoritarian regimes 2.They empower democracy by giving voice to all 3.They act as a multiplier to mass movements during crisis 4.They facilitate the activities of pro-democratic civil society

6. The ‘Big Assumptions’ about Web-based Media & Digital Communications 1.Digital communications and web-based media reinforce participatory governance and undermine regimes For Access to information and e-governance more achievable Citizens become watchdogs Against Creates lethargy not activism Technology does not equal transparency Access to information is not technology-dependent

7. The ‘Big Assumptions’ about Web-based Media & Digital Communications 2.Digital communications and web-based media empowers human rights and democracy by giving voice to all For Voice to the voiceless Audience discourse Authorities’ grip on information eroded Against Narrows information scope Diminishes role journalism Empowers politically-motivated groups

8. The ‘Big Assumptions’ about Democracy & Digital Communications 3.Digital communications and web-based media act as a multiplier to mass movements during crisis For Information cascades Against Digital communications do not create or sustain movements Diaspora versus domestic usage

9. The ‘Big Assumptions’ about Web-based Media & Digital Communications 4.Digital communications and web-based media facilitate the activities of pro-democratic and Human Rights civil society For Rapid and cheap information tools Secure communications Against Best used by organized groups Government monitoring and control

10. Areas of Government Control over Web-based Media and Digital Communications Policy & Regulation Monitoring & Surveillance Technical Interference Counter Propaganda

11. Areas of Government Control over Web-based Media and Digital Communications Policy & Regulation Monitoring & Surveillance Technical Interference Counter Propaganda Often used: Defamation | Anti-terrorism | National security | Pornography New discourse: Copyright | Intellectual Property | E- governance | Access to information | Outlet registration | Declaration of income| Cyber-crime | Blasphemy | Information sovereignty

12. Areas of Government Control over Web-based Media and Digital Communications Policy & Regulation Monitoring & Surveillance Technical Interference Counter Propaganda Interception Data Sources Information Gathering Telcos and ISPs

13. Areas of Government Control over Web-based Media and Digital Communications Policy & Regulation Monitoring & Surveillance Technical Interference Counter Propaganda Blocking & Filtering Shaping Attacks Cloaking Event-Based Control

14. Areas of Government Control over Web-based Media and Digital Communications Policy & Regulation Monitoring & Surveillance Technical Interference Counter Propaganda Flooded Content Targeted Content Slanderous Content Deceptive Content

15. Looking forward: Build alliances between academia, business, government and civil society Media and FoE civil society community to become more active in defining principles applying to press freedoms online Seek improved national internet and digital communications policy frameworks Make global services accessible to local partners Improve local partners’ capacity in online security

16. th@i-m-s.dk Thank You

17. Case Examples of the use of Digital Communication by Web-based Media in Burma, Sri Lanka and Belarus Roskilde University, 7 October 2010 Thomas Hughes Deputy Director International Media Support

18. Case: Burma

19. Case: Sri Lanka

20. Case: Belarus

21. th@i-m-s.dk Thank You