WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following briefing:
INTERNET FREEDOM IN THE OSCE REGION: TRENDS AND CHALLENGES
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
1:00PM
Senate Visitors Center (SVC)
Room 215
Live Webcast: www.facebook.com/HelsinkiCommission
For seven straight years, internet freedom in Eurasia has been on the decline, with countries like Russia and Turkey among the worst offenders. Independent websites are frequently censored and bloggers and netizens are being jailed for promoting human rights or documenting abuse. Meanwhile, governments are employing manipulation and disinformation campaigns to control the online information landscape and silence opposing voices, weaponizing social media to preserve power.
On November 14, Freedom House will release the newest edition of its Freedom on the Net report, an annual assessment of internet access, censorship, and user rights in 65 countries, encompassing 87 percent of all internet users.
Featuring the report’s main findings, this briefing will examine declining internet freedom globally and in the OSCE region, and its impact on broader democracy and human rights; growing cyberattacks against human rights defenders in Russia and the former Soviet sphere; and government use of social media to manipulate discussions and attack critics.
The following panelists are scheduled to participate:
- Sanja Kelly, Director, Freedom on the Net, Freedom House
- Dariya Orlova, Senior Lecturer, Mohyla School of Journalism in Kyiv, Ukraine
- Berivan Orucoglu, Human Rights Defenders Program Coordinator, The McCain Institute
- Jason Pielemeier, Policy Director, Global Network Initiative
