[IRP] Web Symposium: The Middle East, The Revolution, and the Internet

[Jochai Ben-Avie]

Dear friends and colleagues,



I thought you might be interested in the following *online event* on
Thursday at 12PM EST



*The Middle East, the Revolution, and the Internet* live streamed at
https://www.acessnow.org/live.


Online symposium participants include:



? *Frank La Rue*: United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

? *Marietje Schaake*: Dutch Member of the European Parliament

? *Jillian York*: Harvard University Berkman Center

? *Tarek Amr:* Egyptian Digital Activist on Global Voices

? *Walid Al-Saqaf: *Yemeni software developer and journalist

? *Al Jazeera Transparency Unit *(invited)

? *Brett Solomon*: Access (Moderator)


*It will take place this Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST
(GMT-5)** During the event, you can tweet questions using the #Q4Access
hashtag or e-mail us at info at accessnow.org*.


*Background*

Tech-utopians and tech-doomsayers continue their debate over the impact of
the internet on politics and democracy. Meanwhile mass demonstrations have
spread across the Middle East, causing the downfall of one government and
putting others on high alert. In each case we know technology has played a
vital role in mobilizing protestors and transmitting information in real
time around the globe. The existential threat it plays to a regime has been
demonstrated by Egypt's internet shutdown. ?The Middle East, the Revolution
and the Internet? brings together experts in the field to discuss and debate
the issues in real time.



Access's live web symposium will examine the impact of new (social) media
and the internet on political freedom. On the one hand, we can expect
grassroots activists to make use of technology to facilitate their
activities. On the other hand, the new era provides opportunities for
dictators and regimes to survey and monitor like never before. With voices
from academia to the front line, Access will explore how activists use the
net, the challenges for state actors, and the likely winners and losers in
the digital cat and mouse game.



Please join us for this in-depth and dynamic discussion.



https://www.accessnow.org/live

-- 
Jochai Ben-Avie
Access Policy Analyst
jochai at accessnow.org
+1-888-414-0100 x704 (tel)
JochaiBen-Avie (skype)
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