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alberto
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cyber-dissidents or freedom of expression?
May 12, 2003 - 07:25 AM
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A Campaign has been launched to free jailed cyber-dissidents
( http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/05/cyberdissidents.htm )
Journalists, Webmasters and students who have been jailed by their governments for expressing their views via the Internet. These dissidents should be freed immediately, Human Rights Watch has said, while launching an online campaign on Internet arrests.
I would like to discuss with you all the difference between freedom of expression and a criminal act?
Personally I'm for the right to think, have a doubt and express an idea and a position freely yet believe this should be balanced with the same right of all other individuals, with the equaly fundamental right to access information, crisis situation security purposes and moral and ethical pronciples (i.e. obviously pornography and useless violence that isn't information aren't rights to express!!!)
It's clear that there is a thin line that divides rights, freedom and a criminal act, and would like to discuss and figure out with you where it is or where in your opinions it should be.
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Vivek
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Governing the Internet
May 12, 2003 - 11:58 AM
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I agree with you that there is a thin line that divides rights, freedom and criminal acts. However... the Internet needs governance... we need rules. I know that it is going to be difficult to frame out a definite set of laws to govern the Internet... especially due to its global nature. But leaving things the way they are... poses serious security risks.
In the individual cases, highlighted in the article above... may be a direct violation of human rights, I am not contesting that fact.
For starters... we need to tools to monitor the Internet very closely, this may result in invading privacy of Internet Users... but it needs to be done, for the safety of all users worldwide.
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alberto
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Re: cyber-dissidents or freedom of expression?
May 15, 2003 - 10:15 AM
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I agree that you need rules, though these are needed even off-line to protect human rights yet also to sanction crime.
The main matter is a just balance so that the net doesn't become a tool to weaken rights or lower free voices as it's greatest potential is that of being a means of communication and a way to access knowledge therefore leads to endless opportunities, development, emancipation and human rights empowerment.
On the other hand you need rules and means to prevent the net form become a platform for anarchy and facilitate crimes (that are so also off-line): laws to prevent and sanction are needed.
The core issue in my opinion is that of creating international conventions to bring international "physical" laws and principles also in the net and international bodies that implement and monitor, WSIS may be a great opportunity for this to happen.
Last note... my general feeling on rights and internet is that in the longer period the natural structure of internet will allow people eventually to have access to knowledge therefore reinforce rights as total control is impossible, therefore from infrastructures and IT development (which are growing rapidly in many non-democratic states) Human and Civli Rights will indirectly benefit.
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Laurent Straskraba
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Re: cyber-dissidents or freedom of expression?
May 17, 2003 - 03:09 AM
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i just want to inform you that i will talk about this issue at the Vienna International Model of United Nations (VIMUN) in August this year. i´ll be the delegate of UNESCO ... in case there are views/papers/critics you would like me to take into consideration. i will talk there to ppl from around the globe, also during free time. so if you wanna take the chance ... i´m open to it.
cheers,
laurent
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Vivek
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Re: cyber-dissidents or freedom of expression?
May 17, 2003 - 06:26 AM
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The Internet has definitely succeeded in making the world a village! So... if we are able to create a common set of laws to govern the Internet, irrespective of nationalities... then maybe few decades later it just might be possible to unite mankind under a single government!
Very much like how efforts are made to unite Europe under a single government.
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alberto
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Re: cyber-dissidents or freedom of expression?
May 17, 2003 - 07:26 AM
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Hey Laurent!
That's amazing!
That would be great! Have you get a deadline by when you need material? and which e-mail shall I send too?
Take Care,
Alberto
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Laurent Straskraba
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please send ...
May 17, 2003 - 07:59 AM
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before 31 May 03 to my e-mail address: laurent@straskraba.net
yes, networking is what it´s all about 
cheers,
laurent
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alberto
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Re: cyber-dissidents or freedom of expression?
May 18, 2003 - 08:34 AM
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Cool!
I'll send you some material some time next week, before the end of May deadline though!!!
Thanks and Take Care,
Alberto
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alberto
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China blocks Website on Tiananmen massacre anniversary
June 12, 2003 - 11:56 AM
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Some more news on rights, freedom and democracy related to the web...
Blocking of Bumei Zhiye, an independent Chinese Website, on the 14th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre has sent waves of protest across China. This incident comes close to the recent sentencing of four cyber dissidents and also highlights the Chinese government's intolerance of the free flow of information on the Internet.
You can read the whole article at http://www.rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=7075
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Chris Evans
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Careful...
June 17, 2003 - 06:17 AM
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I would firmly argue against any form of governance or legislation across the internet. Granted, I don't believe I have knowledge of the full malicious potential of the internet, but I am personally not prepared to risk sacrificing this fantastic source of unadulterated access to information.
I think any form of regulation is negative and can only adversely effect peoples freedom of expression. People need to be smart enough to decide for themselves what is wrong and not be trusted. Having some international legistlation holding people's hands can only promote further stagnation of culture and expression. (as well as corruption and stratification of society)
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Ha Thi Lan Anh
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Just one thing.
June 19, 2003 - 01:34 AM
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Originally posted by anardelli
I agree totally with you on freedom of expression (on this look at http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/06/vietnam061703.htm
on a Vietnamese arrestied for "spying" as one of the most important and elementary human and civil rights, as people grow and emancipate when they are free, and everythiong that is great is created in freedom yet I also believe in the need to balance that right with basic moral values and at least with a system that allows to prevent what is illegal physically
Sorry but Human Rights Watch sources are bullshit.
Human Rights Watch have attacked Vietnam all the time and produced severalincorrect stories and comments on the situation of the country.It is not only in the field of information rights but also in religion rights, human rights and development issues.One small example : While Vietnam donors (at Consultative Group Meeting in Hanoi on December 10 -11, 2002) and the UNDP (in its 2002 Human Development Report) observed that Vietnam had recorded impressive achievements in human development, the Human Rights Watch report doesn't but casts doubt on the credit of the organization's statements on Vietnam.
If you want to learn about ICT and Information Rights and freedom of expression issue in Vietnam you should check out UNDP website in Vietnam. They have done several in-depth researches which express quite fairly about this issue.
I dont think that people should read news on internet and carelessly make judgements without investigating carefully about the soucres and analyse the truth of the information from different sources.
Again Human Right Watch has a bunch of bullshits. And if you really wanna know about situation in vietnam, read something else from UN orgs working in Vietnam AND having their offices in vietnam.Or get a ticket to fly here, spend several month to investigate yourself.
In Vietnam, people do have and can practice the freedom of expression one media even though teachnology infrustracture is still limited. Everyone is given freedom of speech as the legislation stimulated. But like in all other countries' law, a person's freedom doesnt mean he is free to attack other people's freedom.
HRW often talk about information rights, human rights and other kind of violence in Vietnam and surprisingly enough they dont talk about the Patriot Act, about racism in US for example.
According to HRW, Vietnam is ranked as one of the countries where human right is terribly violated. But if you read UNDP Human Development Report, UNicef's State of the World report, etc etc, you will see Vietnam is one of the countries that achieved incredibly in human rights and development of the living conditions of people.Plus Vietnam political situation is one of the most stable in the world over the past few years. People feel safe, happy and full of energy to positively develop themselves.
In short, HRW is Bullshit Agency and hence i would like to ask you to not just listen to one side, and check out your source before commenting or putting judgement on anthing that you dont understand clearly.
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Laurent Straskraba
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very interesting ...
June 19, 2003 - 01:47 AM
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wouldn´t you like to discuss this issue at VIMUN here in Vienna? would be awesome!
btw: i´m representing UNESCO´s delegate to the Council of Human Rights (on freedom of the press and related issues)
peace,
laurent
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Ha Thi Lan Anh
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Re: cyber-dissidents or freedom of expression?
June 19, 2003 - 01:54 AM
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laurent r u talking to me or anardelli? =P
if to me, i dont mind if u send me around ticket. i dont mind the last minute hehe 
just kidding
it would be awesome if u could include my point somewhere in ur presentation just to have diversity of opinions and some insight realities from the locals.
hope to hear more about ur presentation at VIMUN
100001!!
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Laurent Straskraba
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to both of you ...
June 19, 2003 - 02:08 AM
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alberto and lan anh,
and all the other ppl interested in these aspects.
btw: find more about the VIMUN at http://www.afa.at/vimun/afavimun.htm - it will be held at UN building in Vienna from August 10-14, 2003
cheers,
laurent
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alberto
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Re: cyber-dissidents or freedom of expression?
June 19, 2003 - 09:45 AM
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Do you really think that a 10 year old who accesses a pornographic site is "smart enough to decide for themselves what is wrong and not be trusted", and you truly think that pornography and extreme violence are to be considered "cultural expressions"???
I agree totally with you on freedom of expression (on this look at http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/06/vietnam061703.htm
on a Vietnamese arrestied for "spying" as one of the most important and elementary human and civil rights, as people grow and emancipate when they are free, and everythiong that is great is created in freedom yet I also believe in the need to balance that right with basic moral values and at least with a system that allows to prevent what is illegal physically off the net to be sanctioned on the net (for example use the net for smuggling of children, organs, pornography, illegal communications etc... etc...)
Freedom is a big word, if it's total you have anarchy (or end in a dictatorship), no longer liberty or democracy, freedom does not mean no state (Lenin docet) which ends in the "freedom" of only a few people. It means a system where all can benefit from the true meaning of human and civil rights: If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarantee an equally full measure of liberty to ALL your neighbors.
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