"In this policy paper, ARTICLE 19 proposes a set of recommendations to state actors and policy makers about what they should do to promote and protect the rights of bloggers domestically and internationally. It also gives practical advice to bloggers about their rights and explains how - and in what
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situations - they can invoke some of the privileges and defences that traditional journalists have found vital to the integrity of their work [...] ARTICLE 19 argues that it is no longer appropriate to define journalism and journalists by reference to some recognised body of training, or affiliation with a news entity or professional body. On the contrary, ARTICLE 19 believes that the definition of journalism should be functional, i.e. journalism is an activity that can be exercised by anyone. Accordingly, it argues that international human rights law must protect bloggers just as it protects journalists. The policy paper therefore addresses the key areas that bloggers are likely to face, that is: licensing, real-name registration (vs. anonymity), accreditation, the protection of sources, protection from violence, legal liability and ethical responsibility and suggests ways for them to be addressed." (Executive summary)
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"This paper investigates the decision-making process of community members who decide on using telecenters for entrepreneurial endeavors. A qualitative approach through interviews with telecenter staff and users is used to assess the barriers and enablers to economic activity through use of telecente
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rs. An ethnographic decision tree model is developed to illustrate the process through which a community member makes a decision to use the telecenter to support economic livelihood. A predictive model for entrepreneurial behavior is proposed based on the factors which influence the usage of telecenters for entrepreneurship – social ties, opportunity recognition and support from the telecenters." (Abstract)
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"In the last few years, Russia has become an important player in the international internet governance debate, pushing for a governance model that is state-centric, hierarchical and based on the inviolability of state sovereignty. Russia has not only articulated an alternative model at forums like t
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he World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), it has formed alliances with states such as China and Saudi Arabia, who share its vision. Russia’s views on internet governance stem from security concerns about the potential of independent information to harm its state and society, as well as from a normative aversion to what it views as US domination of internet governance. Russia favours the UN and particularly ITU as the organisation best suited for ultimately settling questions of governance." (Summary, page 6)
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"ICT Development for Social and Rural Connectedness provides an introduction to the concept of 'connectedness', and explores how this socio-psychological term has evolved during the age of the Internet. The book surveys the principles of ICT for development (ICTD), and closely examines how ICT has p
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layed a pivotal role in the rural community development of various countries. To highlight the continued benefits of ICT in these regions, the book presents an in-depth case study that analyzes the connectedness within the rural internet centers of Malaysia." (Publisher description)
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"Über die politische Einschätzung und den Regelungsbedarf des Internets ist im Laufe seiner kurzen Geschichte weltweit schon viel und unterschiedlich debattiert worden. Wiederholt sind diverse Themen in den Vordergrund geschoben worden: etwa digital divide, Netzneutralität, Cyberkriminalität, Da
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tenschutz etc. Jeweils verschiedene Akteure haben sich dafür engagiert und ihre Interessen vertreten. Diese Einführung arbeitet die relevanten Handlungsfelder, die maßgeblichen Akteure international, regional und national sowie die getroffenen Regelungen und die sich aktuell und künftig abzeichnenden Regelungsbedarfe systematisch auf und erläutert sie an Fallbeispielen. Damit leistet sie zugleich einen grundsätzlichen Beitrag zur anhaltenden Globalisierung medial-digitaler Kommunikation." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"Advocates of Internet freedom need to develop more responses to cybercrime and online ethics to make sure that real concerns are not exploited by repressive governments to impose Internet controls and other measures, which violate the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of information. An i
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mproved multi-stakeholder system of Internet governance, increased transnational cooperation and increased investment in Internet safety technology is needed to combat rising levels of cybercrime. Principles of self-regulation can and should be increasingly extended to online media and online communication to fight ethical lapses in Internet content. While the nature of the Internet can compound some of the ethical problems encountered it simultaneously displays features which can help to make self-regulation work." (Page 1)
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"Libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés play a critical role in extending the benefits of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to a diverse range of people worldwide. However, their ability to contribute to development agendas has come into question in recent times. The Global Impact S
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tudy was designed to address this debate by generating evidence about the scale, character, and impacts of public access ICTs in eight countries: Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Ghana, Lithuania, the Philippines, and South Africa. This report summarizes the study’s key findings, situating public access in the context of national development, discussing some disputed issues, and providing recommendations for policymakers, public access practitioners and researchers. The results show that a central impact of public access is the promotion of digital inclusion through technology access, information access, and development of ICT skills. Both users and non-users report positive impacts in various social and economic areas of their lives." (Abstract)
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"missio setzt sich im Rahmen der Aktion Schutzengel „Für Familien in Not. Weltweit“ mit einer Unterschriftenaktion für saubere Handys dafür ein, dass führende Handyhersteller sicherstellen, dass ihre Handys kein Coltan aus Konfliktregionen der Demokratischen Republik Kongo verwenden, mit dem
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der Krieg finanziert wird. In diesem Hintergrundpapier wird die Bedeutung des Erzes Coltan bzw. Tantal beschrieben, der Zusammenhang mit dem Bürgerkrieg in diesem Land verdeutlicht und vor allem politische Rahmenbedingungen für sichere Herkunftsnachweise vorgestellt. Ziel aller Aktionen darf keinesfalls der Boykott des Rohstoffes sein. Es geht um den kontrollierbar zu machenden Nachweis der Handyunternehmen, dass vom Verkauf von Coltan keine Milizen, Rebellengruppen etc. profitieren. Um dies zu erreichen, bedarf es einer engen Kooperation aller am Abbau, an der Zulieferung, der Verarbeitung und des Verkaufs beteiligten Akteure." (Einführung)
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"The aim of this book is to explore digital media and intercultural interaction at an arts college in Tanzania through innovative forms of ethnographic representation. The book and the series website weave together visual and aural narratives, interviews and observations, life stories and video docu
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mentaries, art performances and productions. It paints a vivid portrayal of everyday life in East Africa's only institute for practical art training, while tracing the rich cultural history of a state that has mixed tribalism, nationalism, Pan-Africanism, and cosmopolitanism in astonishingly creative ways. While following the anthropological tradition of thick description, Digital Drama employs a more artistic and accessible style of writing. Dramatic, ethnographic details are interspersed with theoretical reflections and postulations to explain and make sense of the unfolding narratives. The accompanying Web site visualizes and sensualizes the stories narrated in the book, unfolding a dramatic world of African dance, music, theater, and digital culture." (Back cover)
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"This publication is an outcome of the Ørecomm Festival 2011 and presents Paula Uimonen (The Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions), Petter Åttingsberg (International Media Support) Stine Kirstein Junge (United Nations Development Programme), Birgitte Jallov (independent consultant), and R
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afael Obregon (United Nations Children’s Fund) and their experiences and reflections on social media in development cooperation. The publication addresses social media in relation to various subjects such as external communication, community radio, the Arab Spring, youth and equity, the credibility of social media, as well as new and innovative ways of using social media in development cooperation." (Introduction, page 10)
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"Die Nutzung von Communitys hat längst Einzug in den Alltag Jugendlicher und junger Erwachsener gefunden. 85 Prozent der Zwölf- bis 29-Jährigen nutzen zumindest gelegentlich die Angebote von Social Networks, 51 Prozent tun dies täglich. Dies belegen die Ergebnisse der JIM-Studie (Jugend, Informa
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tion, Multimedia) sowie einer ergänzenden SWR-Studie zum Medienverhalten 20- bis 29-Jähriger. Die Plattform Facebook kann dabei einen Großteil der Communityaktivitäten und damit auch der Kommunikation an sich binden. Rund zwei Drittel der Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen nutzen Facebook, für 60 Prozent ist es die meistgenutzte Plattform. Als Hauptmotiv für die Mitgliedschaft in einer Community wird deren Funktionalität für die Organisation des Privatlebens genannt. Die Größe und Etabliertheit des Portals, vor allem das Kriterium „wo finde ich meine Freunde?“, entscheiden dann darüber, welche Community hauptsächlich genutzt wird. Die Präsenz von Unternehmen, Stars oder Institutionen auf Facebook führt zu einer Vermischung privater und öffentlicher Bereiche, die den Wirkbereich der Communitys über den privaten Raum hinaus hin zum Social-Media-Marketing ausdehnt. Weitere Untersuchungen zeigen, dass eine Mehrzahl der Medienmarken Facebook bereits als Kommunikations- oder Distributionsplattform nutzt. Der Grad der Dialogorientierung und Interaktivität – gemessen anhand von Kriterien wie persönlicher Ansprache, benutzter Sprachform oder den Inhalten der Postings – unterscheidet sich zwischen verschiedenen Mediengattungen deutlich. Während Tageszeitungen bisher nur wenige dialogorientierte Elemente in ihren Communityauftritten nutzen, gelingt es Hörfunksendern derzeit am besten, eine Interaktion mit dem Nutzer aufzubauen. Eine Analyse von 75 Facebook-Accounts bestätigt den Radioanbietern einen intensiven, gegenseitigen Austausch mit den Hörern, der sich in deutlichen Zuwachsraten bei der Zahl der Fans manifestiert. Auch hier unterscheiden sich die Strategien im Hinblick auf den Einsatz unterschiedlicher kommunikativer Elemente, die Inhalte der Posts oder eine programm- bzw. nutzergetriebene Ausrichtung des Auftritts zwischen den verschiedenen Programmen. Derzeit haben junge Hörfunkprogramme den höchsten Grad an Interaktivität und einen überdurchschnittlichen Traffic auf ihren Facebook-Accounts." (Abstract)
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"Iraq’s parliament is in the process of enacting an “Information Crimes Law” to regulate the use of information networks, computers, and other electronic devices and systems. The draft law includes vague provisions that would allow Iraqi authorities to deter legitimate criticisms of or peacefu
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l challenges to governmental or religious officials or policies. As such, the law is part of a broad effort by authorities to suppress peaceful dissent by criminalizing legitimate information sharing and networking activities." (Back cover)
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"This publication is a straightforward overview of the impact of mobile technologies on development-related issues, for development practitioners. Focusing on its role in democratic governance, poverty reduction and crisis prevention, it provides a broad range of examples and statistical evidence fr
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om low and medium income countries. Mainly directed at UNDP programme staff and development partners, this primer also provides some guidelines for project design and implementation." (CAMECO Update 1-2012)
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