Transcript Freedom of expression and freedom of the media INFORMATION SOCIETY Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Austria.

Freedom of expression and
freedom of the media
INFORMATION SOCIETY
Federal Ministry
for Foreign Affairs
of Austria
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Freedom of
Expression
„Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and
expression: this right includes the right freedom to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive and
impart information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers.“
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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Freedom of
Expression
Challenges for FOE in the Information Society
• New Opportunities, but also new limitations of FOE
• Internet Security and Data Protection
• (Hidden) Censorship of the Internet, filtering of
harmful or political content
• Illicit and harmful content: child pornogrophy,
hatespeach, racism, Nazi propaganda,
deformation, incitement to terrorism etc.
• Protection of privacy, of minors, of society
• Brave new digital world?
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Freedom of
Expression
WSIS I (Geneva)
Declaration of Principles
• link between Information Society and Human
Rights (UDHR)
• link between Internet Security and Human Rights
• affirmation of freedom of press, information, media
• protection of human rights of others, like privacy
Geneva, December 2003
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Freedom of
Expression
WSIS I (Geneva): Plan of Action
Plan of Action of Geneva
• essential role of media for freedom of expression
• measures against illicit and illegal content, like
racism, xenophobia, hatred, violence, misuse of
children, human trafficking
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Freedom of
Expression
WSIS II: Tunis
Tunis Commitment and Agenda for the
Information Society
• confirmation of Geneva principles and cultural
diversity
• measures to overcome digital divide, for example
digital solidarity fund
• Internet Governance: UN Working Group
Tunis, December 2005
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