February 2015 - netsociety - server-nexa.polito.it

Symposium on Internet & Human Rights in India (5 pm today in New Delhi)
by Chinmayi Arun March 16, 2015

March 16, 2015

Dear All, The Centre for Communication Governance at National Law University Delhi is co-hosting an event this evening with the Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers, the UNESCO Chair on Freedom of Communication and Information at the University of Hamburg, the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) and the Hans Bredow Institute, University of Hamburg. This is a symposium on *‘Internet and Human Rights in India’ *that will take place this (Saturday) evening from* 5:00 pm *onwards at *Conference Room- II, India International Centre in New Delhi*. The symposium consists of two panels on: *Surveillance & Databases: Experiences & Privacy Concerns *and* Unpacking the Intermediary Liability Debate in India*. Professor Wolfgang Schulz and Professor K.S.Park will be joining us as panelists. The concept note for the event can be found here <http://networkofcenters.net/sites/networkofcenters.net/files/dehli-concept-…>. A detailed schedule is attached to this email. I do hope that whoever among you is in Delhi will join us for this event and for dinner after event. Best, Chinmayi Chinmayi Arun | Research Director Centre for Communication Governance | National Law University, Delhi | Sector-14, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110078 | Cell: (+91) 971-770-2630 | Fax: (+91) 11-280-34256 | www.ccgdelhi.org . <http://goog_561379142/> www.nludelhi.ac.in | Twitter: @chinmayiarun <https://twitter.com/CCGDelhi>

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Call for Proposals: Connected Life 2015
by Dana Polatin-Reuben Feb. 28, 2015

Feb. 28, 2015

Hi all, The team at Connected Life 2015 cordially invite you to submit papers for participation in our conference at Balliol College, Oxford University on 4 June. This year’s theme is Our Digital Society: Connecting the digital with the physical. This conference hopes to examine how our digital society overlaps with existing social structures, institutions, and relationships, as well as how the impact of digital technology on society is evolving. Bringing together participants from across a vast range of disciplines, Connected Life 2015 will foster collaborations within and beyond Oxford in pursuit of an enhanced understanding of the Internet and its multifaceted effects upon society. We welcome students and faculty from all departments, including (but not limited to) business, computer science, economics, education, history, international relations, law, linguistics, literature, media and communications, medicine, philosophy, politics, psychology, and sociology. Please find attached our Call for Papers. The deadline for submissions is Monday, 16 March. If you have any questions or wish to get in touch, please contact connectedlife(a)oii.ox.ac.uk<mailto:connectedlife@oii.ox.ac.uk> or visit our website: http://connectedlife.oii.ox.ac.uk. We look forward to receiving and reviewing your submission! Best wishes, Dana Polatin-Reuben Submissions Co-ordinator Connected Life 2015 @OXConnectedLife<https://twitter.com/OXConnectedLife>

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Declaration of Internet Rights (Italy's Chamber of Deputies)
by J.C. DE MARTIN Feb. 25, 2015

Feb. 25, 2015

Dear Friends, Let me submit to your attention that Italy's Chamber of Deputies has recently published a draft Declaration of Internet Rights. The draft has been written by an ad hoc study commission whose members are part members of Parliament and part experts. Although many similar declarations (charters, etc.) has been proposed in the past, this is the first time (to the best of my knowledge) that a Parliamentary institution has produced something similar. The draft Declaration is now being commented in Italian on the public platform camera.civi.ci, but it is also possible to comment the Declaration in three other languages: German: https://publixphere.net/i/publixphere-de/page/Italiens_Entwurf_einer_Erkl%C… French: http://www.networkofcenters.net/more/internet-rights-fra English: http://www.networkofcenters.net/more/internet-rights-eng The consultation will end on 27 February 2015. With the hope that the Declaration might influence the Internet debate at several levels, I cordially invite you to contribute your thoughts and proposals. Many thanks, best, juan carlos prof. juan carlos de martin co-director / nexa center for internet & society politecnico di torino - italy http://nexa.polito.it office: +39 011 090 7217

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Governance of Online Intermediaries: New Study by the Global Network of Internet and Society Centers
by Raimondo Iemma Feb. 18, 2015

Feb. 18, 2015

* Governance of Online Intermediaries: ** New Study by the Global Network of Internet and Society Centers* February 2015 The Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers <http://networkofcenters.net/> (NoC) and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society <http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/> at Harvard University are pleased to announce the release of a new report <http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2566364>, which examines the rapidly changing landscape of online intermediary liability at the intersection of law, technology, norms, and markets, and is aimed at informing and improving Internet policy-making globally._ ___ This report is a first output of a larger initiative on the governance of online intermediaries and consists of a case study series <https://publixphere.net/i/noc/page/Online_Intermediaries_Research_Project_C…> exploring online intermediary liability frameworks and issues in Brazil, the European Union, India, South Korea, the United States, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam, and a synthesis paper <https://publixphere.net/i/noc/page/NoC_Online_Intermediaries_Research_Proje…> that seeks to distill key observations and provide a high-level analysis of some of the structural elements that characterize varying governance frameworks, with a focus on intermediary liability regimes and their evolution. In particular the synthesis highlights the importance of cultural and political context, as reflected in both the legal norms aimed at regulating intermediaries and the perception of intermediaries’ social function within the countries studied. The research effort is grounded in a diversity of global perspectives and collaborative research techniques, committed to objective and independent academic standards, and aspires to be useful, actionable, and timely for policymakers and stakeholders. More broadly, the Network of Centers seeks to contribute to a more generalized vision and longer-term strategy regarding the role of academic research, facilitation and convening, and education and communication in the Internet age. The full text of the case studies <https://publixphere.net/i/noc/page/Online_Intermediaries_Research_Project_C…> and the synthesis paper <https://publixphere.net/i/noc/page/NoC_Online_Intermediaries_Research_Proje…> are available on the Publixphere website, where the authors welcome comments and feedback. The series and individual papers are also available for download from SSRN <http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2566364>. -- *About the Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers* The Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers (NoC) was launched by a group of academic centers in 2012 in recognition of the lack of internationally coordinated research and engagement activities in issues concerning the Internet and related technologies. The NoC is a collaborative initiative among academic institutions with a focus on interdisciplinary research on the development, social impact, policy implications, and legal issues concerning the Internet. This collective aims to increase interoperability between participating centers in order to stimulate the creation of new cross-national, cross-disciplinary conversation, debate, teaching, learning, and engagement regarding the most pressing questions around new technologies, social change, and related policy and regulatory developments. More information can be found at http://networkofcenters.net/get-involved. -- Raimondo Iemma Managing Director & Research Fellow Nexa Center for Internet and Society http://nexa.polito.it/ Project Manager Global Network of Internet & Society Research Centers http://networkofcenters.net/

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ITS Global Fellowship Program 2015
by Raimondo Iemma Feb. 11, 2015

Feb. 11, 2015

Dear Friends, I am happy to forward you information about the Global Fellowship Program 2015 of the Institute of Technology and Society (ITSrio.org) Deadline for application is the 20th of March. http://www.itsrio.org/2015/02/04/its-global-policy-fellowship-program-2015/ Best, Raimondo -- ITS Global Policy Fellowship Program 2015 *Program overview:* The Institute of Technology and Society (ITSrio.org) invites researchers, graduate students as well as professionals working with technology policy, to apply to its Global Policy Fellowship Program and spend four weeks* in Brazil at ITS. Last year, we welcomed six fellows from all over the world, who contributed immensely for the success of the Fellowship Program. (See the list of our 2014 fellows here <http://www.itsrio.org/sobre-o-its/fellows/>, and what they have to say about their experiences here <http://www.itsrio.org/2015/02/04/its-fellows-2014-and-what-they-said-about-…>). Our Global Fellows will have the opportunity to work with the team who created and developed the landmark “Marco Civil” legislation, a bill protecting fundamental rights, including privacy, net neutrality and freedom of expression, approved as law in Brazil in April 2014. ITS will offer the opportunity to work with research in the five broad areas, namely: * Law, democracy and technology (dealing with topics such civic engagement, online participation, and others); * Access to technology, justice and human rights (dealing with topics such as connectivity, accesibility, digital divide and others) * Internet regulation and Internet governance; * Privacy and data protection (dealing with topics such as big data, anti-survailance, data protection and mass surveilance); * Rethinking culture, media and education (working with topics such as intelectual property, digital entrepreneurship, art & technology, online teaching, and others). The ITS Fellowship Program will offer the opportunity for those interested in internet and technology policy to deepen their knowledge about the Brazilian technology context. We have prepared an intensive 4-week* program for our fellows, which include visits to the biggest technology national and international companies operating in Brazil, the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) and visits to São Paulo and Brasília, including meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Culture, and Congress members who are advocating for policies related to internet and technology. During their stay, selected fellows will be expected to: * Present at least one public seminar, organized in partnership with ITS. Suggested topics can include: broadband and access policy, content regulation, copyright and creativity, consumer privacy, open government, government surveillance, data security, data innovation, freedom of expression, democracy and technology and human rights. * To publish at least one article or webpost about their experience as a fellow in Brazil. * To collaborate with the ITS team and its projects. *Who should apply?* We are looking for students, researchers, and professionals who are following the debates in the public policy field, and who want to spend part of their summer/winter in Brazil, learning about Internet policy. People from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. For the selection processes, please send us: * Your complete academic and professional resume, including your LinkedIn profile and other online references you want us to consider; * A 1-page personal statement about your motivations to work in Brazil; * A brief work description of your experience with technology policy; * Proposal for a public presentation of your work; * Indication of one of the five main areas ITS which you would like to work on; * One project or idea you would be interested in developing while at ITS. Portuguese skills are not required (but English is mandatory). All documents must be sent in one single e-mail message to itsrio(a)itsrio.org <mailto:itsrio@itsrio.org>, with the subject “Global Fellows Application :: YOUR NAME”. *Our Fellowship Package includes:* * Intensive 4-week* program for the fellows; * Air tickets to São Paulo and Brasília; * Accommodation in São Paulo and Brasília during the days of our visit; * Shared office space at our headquarters for four weeks*; * A visit to a “samba” music club will also be organized, but is not mandatory; *Our Fellowship Package does not include:* * International Traveling to and from Brazil; * Accommodation for the four weeks* in Rio de Janeiro, where our program takes place; * Other costs related to your stay in Brazil other than those mentioned above. * Necessary visa to entry the country. Our team will provide tips and information about how to find accommodation in the city during that time. *Relevant Dates:* Applications deadline: March 20th, 2015; Announcement of fellows by e-mail: March 31st, 2015; Fellowship Program will start: June 29th, and will finish in July 27th, 2015*; /* Fellows are expected to stay in Rio from 29/June/2015 to 27/Jul/2015. After this date, fellows can coordinate with ITS the possibility of staying for a longer term if they wish. Visa and costs for additional stays are to be provided by the fellows./

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The Network of Centers welcomes 10 new participants
by Raimondo Iemma Feb. 10, 2015

Feb. 10, 2015

Dear Friends, The Global Network of Internet & Society Research Centers (NoC) is happy to welcome 10 new participants from across the world! The joining Centers are described below. Please visit the links to get further information on their current research, areas of interest, and on the contact persons. The full list of the Centers involved in the NoC -currently 44- is available at http://networkofcenters.net/centers. -- The following Centers have joined the NoC as *Participating Centers*, i.e., academic research centers whose agenda is primarily focused on Internet & Society topics. They are listed in alphabetical order. * *Center for Media, Data and Society (CMDS) at the Central Europe University* [Hungary] o Webpage: http://cmds.ceu.edu/ o Twitter: https://twitter.com/CMDSatCEU o CMDS is the leading center of research on media, communication, and information policy in Central and Eastern Europe. Affiliated with the School of Public Policy at Central European University, CMDS produces scholarly and practice-oriented research addressing academic, policy and civil society needs. Their research priorities include: Media and communication policy; Fundamental communication rights; Media and civil society; New Media and technology; Mediain transition. See http://cmds.ceu.edu/research-areas for more information. o The main contact person within the NoC is *Éva Bognár*, Senior Program Officer and Researcher at the CMDS (http://people.ceu.edu/eva_bognar) * *Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam *[the Netherlands] o Webpage: http://www.ivir.nl/?lang=en o The Institute for Information Law (IViR), officially established in 1989, is one of the largest research centers in the field of information law in the world. The Institute employs over 25 researchers who are active in an entire spectrum of information society related legal areas: intellectual property law, patents, telecommunications and broadcasting regulation, media law, Internet regulation, advertising law, domain names, freedom of expression, privacy, digital consumer issues, commercial speech. o The main contact person within the NoC is *Thomas Margoni*, senior researcher at the Institute for Information Law (http://www.ivir.nl/medewerkerpagina?id=39) * *New Research on Digital Societies (NeRDS) group at Kozminski University *[Poland] o Webpage: http://nerds.kozminski.edu.pl/ o NeRDS (the New Research on Digital Societies) group was established in 2013 at Kozminski University in Warsaw (Poland). Their aim is to study digital societies by the means of virtual ethnography, anthropology of the Internet, digital sociology, but also network analysis and other quantitative methods. Their projects so far include studies of open collaboration communities (such as Wikipedia), Couchsurfing, the Second Life, piracy, transhumanism, as well as virtual communities of museums. o The main contact person within the NoC is *Dariusz Jemielniak*, Full Professor of Management at Kozminski University in Poland (see the "people" menu in the NeRDS website). * *Swedish Institute for Legal Informatics (IRI) at Stockholm University *[Sweden] o Webpage: http://www.juridicum.su.se/iri/english/ o The Swedish Law and Informatics Research Institute (IRI) was established in 1981 as an independent institute within the Faculty of Law at Stockholm University. The institute is engaged in education and research on the relationship and interaction between law and ICT. Areas of interest include application of regulations in the digital environment and the development of methods for legally customized system design and management. o The main contact persons within the NoC are *Patricia Mindus*, Associate Professor at Uppsala University (http://www.filosofi.uu.se/Department/Staff/Mindus__Patricia_/?languageId=1) and *Peter Wahlgren*, the Director of IRI (http://www.juridicum.su.se/iri/organisation/Peter_Wahlgren/) * *Web Science Institute (WSI) at the University of Southampton* [United Kingdom] o Webpage: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/wsi/index.page o The Web Science Institute fosters interdisciplinary collaboration in research and education that aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the World Wide Web. Current research ranges from Social Media Analytics and Social Machines to Ciber Security, and Online Health (see http://www.southampton.ac.uk/wsi/research/index.page) o The main contact person within the NoC is *Susan Halford*, Professor of Sociology and a Director of the Web Science Institute (http://www.southampton.ac.uk/socsci/about/staff/sjh3.page) -- The following Centers have joined the NoC as *Affiliated Participants*, i.e., other types of institutions, still with Internet & Society-related open threads, carried out, e.g., as non-academic research centers, policy-support entities, or think tanks. They are listed in alphabetical order. * *Chatham House* [United Kingdom] o Webpage: http://www.chathamhouse.org/ o Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChathamHouse o Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is based in London. Chatham House’s mission is to be a world-leading source of independent analysis, informed debate and influential ideas on how to build a prosperous and secure world for all. Their policy threads include Science, Technology, and Cyber Security. o The main contact person within the NoC is *Caroline Baylon*, Research Associate of Science, Technology, and Cyber Security at Chatham House (see http://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/directory/196737) * *Diplo Foundation *[Malta / Switzerland] o Webpage: http://www.diplomacy.edu/ o DiploFoundation (Diplo) is an independent non-profit organisation established in 2002 by the governments of Malta and Switzerland. Diplo’s main mission is to increase the capacity of small and developing states to engage effectively and efficiently in global policy processes, negotiations, and diplomacy, in particular in the field of Internet governance. o The main contact persons within the NoC are *Jovan Kurbalija*, founding director of Diplo Foundation (http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses/faculty/kurbalija) and *Roxana Radu*, researcher at Diplo Foundation (http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses/faculty/radu) * *Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan (iPOP)* [Pakistan] o Webpage: http://ipop.org.pk/ o Twitter: https://twitter.com/InternetPolicyP o iPOP (Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan) conducts public interest research on ICT policy and regulation in Pakistan. It provides researchers, governments, regulators, operators, multilateral institutions, development agencies and community organizations with the information and analysis required to develop innovative and appropriate policies for modern age digital technologies. o The main contact person within the NoC is *Arzak Khan*, Director and Co-Founder at the Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan (see http://globalnetpolicy.org/ipo-affiliate-arzak-khan-establishes-internet-po…) * *Global Public Policy Institute* (GPPi) [Germany] o Webpage: http://www.gppi.net/ o Twitter: https://twitter.com/GPPi o The Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) is an independent non-profit think tank based in Berlin. Our mission is to improve global governance through research, policy advice and debate in seven issue areas ranging from humanitarian action and human rights over peace and security to internet politics. Within their Global Internet Politics program, we are committed to developing the internet as a free, open and secure space (see http://www.gppi.net/issue-areas/global-internet-politics/) o The main contact persons within the NoC are two research associates with the Global Public Policy Institute: *Isabel Skierka* (http://www.gppi.net/team/isabel-skierka/) and *Mirko Hohmann* (http://www.gppi.net/team/mirko-hohmann/) * *Nesta Innovation Lab on digital technologies and future Internet* [United Kingdom] o Webpage: http://www.nesta.org.uk/our-people/team/25 o Nesta Innovation Lab works with individuals and organisations to generate, develop and test radical new ideas to address social problems. Through developing and applying leading edge innovation practices and methods, it supports innovators in the public, private and social sectors, and links innovative projects to advocacy and policy change to transform whole systems. o The main contact person within the NoC is *Francesca Bria*, Senior Project Lead in the Nesta Innovation Lab (http://www.nesta.org.uk/users/francesca-bria) Again, a warm welcome to all new participants in the Network of Centers! -- *About the Network of Internet and Society Research Centers* The Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers (NoC) was launched by a group of academic centers in 2012 in recognition of the lack of internationally coordinated research and engagement activities in issues concerning the Internet and related technologies. The NoC is a collaborative initiative among academic institutions with a focus on interdisciplinary research on the development, social impact, policy implications, and legal issues concerning the Internet. This collective aims to increase interoperability between participating centers in order to stimulate the creation of new cross-national, cross-disciplinary conversation, debate, teaching, learning, and engagement regarding the most pressing questions around new technologies, social change, and related policy and regulatory developments. See http://networkofcenters.net/get-involved/. -- Raimondo Iemma Managing Director & Research Fellow Nexa Center for Internet and Society http://nexa.polito.it/ Project Manager Global Network of Internet & Society Research Centers http://networkofcenters.net/

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