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First Ever Asia Internet Rights Conference Addresses Common Challenges

A more detailed report on the seven sessions, the presentations, and interviews with participants will follow shortly.

Source  :  BASE21



















By Terry Park, Staff Reporter
(parkterry@hotmail.com)

Nov. 12, 2001

(Seoul, Korea) -- Activists and scholars from over fifteen countries across Asia, Europe, and the United States gathered at Chungang University in Seoul over the weekend to discuss mutual concerns regarding internet governance, content regulation, and linking social movements with cyberspace.

A number of themes were continually raised during presentations and question-and-answer sessions such as the "digital divide," or the socio-economic gap between those with access to online information and technology and those who do not.

A number of fascinating strategical cases were highlighted on how the internet and other communication mediums can aid movements for social justice, even in underdeveloped countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia.

Inevitably, there were conflicting opinions and varying degrees of emphasis placed on more pragmatic matters such as infrastructure growth and computer literacy versus more cultural/political questions such as language (english versus native dialects) and gender. But in the end, participants realized the intersectionality of these two spheres of activity and the crucial need to form better relationships with fellow internet activists in order to combat local challenges.

As Karen Banks from the United Kingdom said, "there are many questions, but few answers."

The pursuit of internet freedom and accessibility is indeed a process fraught with many obstacles and much confusion, but the past weekend showed the vibrant power and potential of international solidarity.

By the time of sunday's closing session and the colorful mass workers rally later that night at Soongsil University, participants felt a step closer to the liberation of the internet and to each other.



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Labor | Science & ICT | Society | Human Rights
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