UNESCO Internet Freedom Series Publications launched at 10th IGF
Six editions of UNESCO’s flagship series publications on fostering Internet freedom were launched and presented at the 10th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), 12th November. All editions are available online, with 700 hard copies of the publications distributed at the Forum.
The launch, chaired by Mr Guilherme Canela and attended by 40 participants, began with a short presentation by Ms Xianhong Hu. She said UNESCO had started in 2009 to commission this series in order to capture the complex dynamics of Internet governance and provide in-depth analysis and recommendations to its Member States and other stakeholders.
The objective of the studies is to help to create an enabling environment for freedom of expression online and offline. To date, the series has tackled a wide range of issues ranging from online freedom of expression, privacy, and digital safety through to intermediaries’ limited liability and Internet governance declarations. All these studies have also contributed to UNESCO’s comprehensive study “Keystones to Foster Inclusive Knowledge Societies: Access to information and knowledge, Freedom of Expression, Privacy and Ethics on a Global Internet” as mandated by Resolution 37 of the UNESCO General Conference.
The concrete titles include:
- Freedom of connection, freedom of expression: the changing legal and regulatory ecology shaping the Internet
- Global survey on internet privacy and freedom of expression
- Fostering freedom online: the role of Internet intermediaries
- Building digital safety for journalism: a survey of selected issues
- Countering online hate speech
- Principles for governing the Internet: a comparative analysis
Panelists including some of the authors commented that this series is of great value to a wide range of stakeholders including governments, private sector, civil society and academia. The UNESCO series was highly appreciated for taking an inclusive multi-stakeholder approach and for serving as a bridge to exchange views between civil society and governments.
Ms Hu also informed about editions in process about on source protection of journalists in the digital age, and about balancing privacy and transparency. These will be completed and launched in coming months.
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