For Information: IGF 2009 event rattled by UN Security Office

[Robin Gross]

Thanks for forwarding this story, Fouad.  I was very disappointed to
hear the UN Security Forces were being used to remove unsanctioned
content from the meeting.  However, I'm  not there, and am very keen
to hear from those who were present at this incident more facts and
impressions about what actually happened and why, as there are
conflicting reports, and this is a very serious incident.

Thanks,
Robin


On Nov 16, 2009, at 1:11 AM, Fouad Bajwa wrote:

> Forwarded for information:
>
> IGF 2009 event rattled by UN Security Office:
> http://www.mis-asia.com/news/articles/igf-2009-event-rattled-by-un-
> security-office
>
> "If we cannot discuss topics about Internet censorship and
> surveillance policy at a forum about Internet governance then what is
> the point of something like the IGF," said Ron Deibert, director of
> the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for
> International Studies and one of ONI's principal investigators.
> By Rabia Garib
>
> KARACHI, 15 NOVEMBER 2009 - An anti-censorship group holding an event
> Sunday at the United Nations-sponsored Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
> in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, was disrupted by UN officials who demanded
> removal of a poster that mentioned Internet firewalls in China.
>
> According to a Pakistani delegate, Shahzad Ahmed of Bytesforall.net, a
> reception hosted by Open Net Initiative (ONI) was rattled by IGF
> security, who objected to a poster advertising "Access Controlled", a
> book being introduced at the event. "The poster was thrown on the
> floor and we were told to remove it because of the reference to China
> and Tibet. We refused, and security guards came and removed it. The
> incident was witnessed by many," Ahmed reported.
>
> The poster promoting ONI's forthcoming book, "Access Controlled" was
> removed by the IGF's organizers because a sentence in the poster
> apparently violated UN policy. The sentence in question reads, "The
> first generation of Internet controls consisted largely of building
> firewalls at key Internet gateways; China's famous "Great Firewall of
> China" is one of the first national Internet filtering systems."
>
> "If we cannot discuss topics about Internet censorship and
> surveillance policy at a forum about Internet governance then what is
> the point of something like the IGF," said Ron Deibert, director of
> the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for
> International Studies and one of ONI's principal investigators.
>
> Deibert, one of the organizers of the reception, said he will file a
> complaint against the censorship of the event and send it to the
> United Nations Human Rights Commission.
>
> "We condemn this undemocratic act of censoring our event just because
> someone is trying to impress or be in the good graces of the Chinese
> government. It is ironic that while people are allowed to gather here
> to discuss freedom of expression online, censorship and surveillance
> practices on the Internet, we are being restricted in expressing our
> views," said Al Alegre of the Foundation for Media Alternatives, a
> member of the ONI Network.
>
> --
> Regards.
> --------------------------
> Fouad Bajwa
> Advisor & Researcher
> ICT4D & Internet Governance
> Member Multistakeholder Advisory Group (IGF)
> Member Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus (IGC)
> My Blog: Internet's Governance
> http://internetsgovernance.blogspot.com/
> Follow my Tweets:
> http://twitter.com/fouadbajwa
> MAG Interview:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATVDW1tDZzA




IP JUSTICE
Robin Gross, Executive Director
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