Silencing of Dissent & Proactive Tactics in ICT4D

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Janet Gunter leads a discussion about the closing of spaces for expression and assembly and ways civil society can creatively and proactively strengthen itself using ICTs.

We are witnessing the shrinking of civil society space and civil liberties in countries from the UK, Brazil to Cambodia and Angola. While we simultaneously hear of the potential of "open government" and "open data" we are experiencing a closing down of democratic space.

Assembly and free expression are being targeted by states through a number of means, both by online surveillance and physical infiltration, limitation by legal and financial means... So what does this mean particularly for projects focusing on citizen engagement and rights?

Instead of focusing on the negative, we'll approach the topic through three cases of civil society groups looking at the big picture, and being proactive. These individuals/groups are leading the way, demonstrating what resilience can look like (list subject to change)

1 - Taking on digital surveillance - across borders [Ethiopian exile cases in US and UK courts]

2 - Creating live reporting platforms in a post-Tahrir age [Licadho in Cambodia, Central 7311 in Angola]

3 - Turning inwards for support: using domestic digital fundraising to increase legitimacy and buy-in [in Brazil: Agência Pública and Mídia Ninja]