Index of Global Internet Freedom (IGIF)--Pilot Study Hyderabad, December 2008

RECENT TRENDS IN INTERNET FREEDOM Internet-based newspapers, blogs, and social networking sites—emerging as an important force for openness in restricted media environments and as key areas of contestation. Broadening diversity of available information, empowering citizens, acting as a potent weapon against lack of transparency. In very repressive media environments, the internet is often the only sphere in which anti-government opinions can be expressed.

Internet-based newspapers, blogs, and social networking sites—emerging as an important force for openness in restricted media environments and as key areas of contestation.

Broadening diversity of available information, empowering citizens, acting as a potent weapon against lack of transparency.

In very repressive media environments, the internet is often the only sphere in which anti-government opinions can be expressed.

RECENT TRENDS IN INTERNET FREEDOM (CONT.) Several otherwise repressive governments have allowed the internet to remain relatively free, BUT realizing its potential for political mobilization, an increasing number of governments are expanding their methods to control, shape, and monitor digital media content. Variance between regions in terms of the extent to which the internet is a site for political contestation and mobilization. Less so in the Americas; more so in MENA region, parts of Asia and Africa.

Several otherwise repressive governments have allowed the internet to remain relatively free, BUT realizing its potential for political mobilization, an increasing number of governments are expanding their methods to control, shape, and monitor digital media content.

Variance between regions in terms of the extent to which the internet is a site for political contestation and mobilization.

Less so in the Americas; more so in MENA region, parts of Asia and Africa.

TRENDS: CENSORSHIP/FILTERING Recent years has seen an increase in the number of governments taking steps to block access. According to Open Net Initiative, while in 2002 only a handful of governments blocked content, by 2007 at least 40. Regional trends: Asia-Pacific: High diversity—home to most active, freest environments in the world, but also most restrictive China has most sophisticated, pervasive censorship/filtering system with Vietnam following its lead. Burma temporarily shut down the internet completely in fall 2007. Pakistan, Sri Lanka restricting access to politically-sensitive or pro-LTTE sites. CEE/FSU: High regional diversity with some EU member states; FSU and central Asia taking steps to block access (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan).

Recent years has seen an increase in the number of governments taking steps to block access.

According to Open Net Initiative, while in 2002 only a handful of governments blocked content, by 2007 at least 40.

Regional trends:

Asia-Pacific: High diversity—home to most active, freest environments in the world, but also most restrictive

China has most sophisticated, pervasive censorship/filtering system with Vietnam following its lead. Burma temporarily shut down the internet completely in fall 2007. Pakistan, Sri Lanka restricting access to politically-sensitive or pro-LTTE sites.

CEE/FSU: High regional diversity with some EU member states; FSU and central Asia taking steps to block access (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan).

REGIONAL TRENDS (CONT.) MENA: Blocking of websites fairly extensive within the region, especially in Syria, Iran; Filtering and monitoring through government-owned ISPs in the Gulf. Africa: Internet not playing a major role due to financial and infrastructural constraints; but The Gambia and Ethiopia starting to block sites and restrict access. Americas and Western Europe: No significant restrictions, though some content blocked for pornographic or hate-speech content; Latin America quite free, but Cuba the exception with severe restrictions on access. Turkey blocked YouTube twice in 2007.

MENA: Blocking of websites fairly extensive within the region, especially in Syria, Iran; Filtering and monitoring through government-owned ISPs in the Gulf.

Africa: Internet not playing a major role due to financial and infrastructural constraints; but The Gambia and Ethiopia starting to block sites and restrict access.

Americas and Western Europe: No significant restrictions, though some content blocked for pornographic or hate-speech content;

Latin America quite free, but Cuba the exception with severe restrictions on access.

Turkey blocked YouTube twice in 2007.

NON-FILTERING INTERNET CONTROL Internet control not limited to filtering/ censorship. Recent years have seen an increase in a wide variety of threats to internet freedom: Increase in arrests of bloggers and internet users. CPJ found 2008 first time more jailed “cyberdissidents” than traditional media journalists. More sophisticated efforts to guide online opinion – examples in Russia and China with financing for pro-government propaganda websites or online commentators.

Internet control not limited to filtering/ censorship. Recent years have seen an increase in a wide variety of threats to internet freedom:

Increase in arrests of bloggers and internet users. CPJ found 2008 first time more jailed “cyberdissidents” than traditional media journalists.

More sophisticated efforts to guide online opinion – examples in Russia and China with financing for pro-government propaganda websites or online commentators.

IGIF : BASICS Focuses especially on transmission of news and politically relevant communications, while acknowledging that some restrictions on harmful content may be legitimate. Measures restrictions from both government and non-state actors. Key components: Access to technology Free flow of information/content

Focuses especially on transmission of news and politically relevant communications, while acknowledging that some restrictions on harmful content may be legitimate.

Measures restrictions from both government and non-state actors.

Key components:

Access to technology

Free flow of information/content

IGIF: BASICS (CONT.) Pilot study includes analytical reports and numerical ratings for 15 countries Multiple technologies: Internet and mobile phone/text messaging Scoring system similar to that of FH media freedom index to allow for comparisons Total score: 0-100 points Status: 0-30 ‘Free’; 31-60 ‘Partly Free’; 61-100 ‘Not Free’

Pilot study includes analytical reports and numerical ratings for 15 countries

Multiple technologies: Internet and mobile phone/text messaging

Scoring system similar to that of FH media freedom index to allow for comparisons

Total score: 0-100 points

Status: 0-30 ‘Free’; 31-60 ‘Partly Free’; 61-100 ‘Not Free’

THEMATIC CATEGORIES Obstacles to Access (0-25 points) Limits on Content and Communication (0-35 points) Violations of Individual Online Rights (0-40 points)

Obstacles to Access (0-25 points)

Limits on Content and Communication (0-35 points)

Violations of Individual Online Rights (0-40 points)

THEMATIC CATEGORIES Obstacles to Access (0-25 points) Barriers to Access Infrastructural Government-imposed blocking of technologies or applications Economic--cost of access Legal, regulatory, and ownership control over internet and mobile phone providers

Obstacles to Access (0-25 points)

Barriers to Access

Infrastructural

Government-imposed blocking of technologies or applications

Economic--cost of access

Legal, regulatory, and ownership control over internet and mobile phone providers

THEMATIC CATEGORIES Limits on Content and Communication (0-35 points) Filtering and blocking of websites Transparency and proportionality of censorship Self-censorship by bloggers, etc Shaping of online content by government Vibrancy/diversity of online news media Use of digital media for activism, politically relevant mobilization

Limits on Content and Communication

(0-35 points)

Filtering and blocking of websites

Transparency and proportionality of censorship

Self-censorship by bloggers, etc

Shaping of online content by government

Vibrancy/diversity of online news media

Use of digital media for activism, politically relevant mobilization

THEMATIC CATEGORIES Violations of Individual Online Rights (0-40 points) Surveillance Privacy Legal protections for/restrictions on FoE online Repercussions for online activity Legal prosecution Imprisonment Physical attacks

Violations of Individual Online Rights

(0-40 points)

Surveillance

Privacy

Legal protections for/restrictions on FoE online

Repercussions for online activity

Legal prosecution

Imprisonment

Physical attacks

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS Pilot study of 15 countries using IGIF methodology to be published in 2009. Expected results: Finding that some repressive countries score better on internet freedom compared to traditional press freedom. Example: ‘test run’ on Egypt and China both showed a higher score on IGIF. IGIF methodology will allow long-term tracking of interaction between government-imposed restrictions and civil society response.

Pilot study of 15 countries using IGIF methodology to be published in 2009.

Expected results:

Finding that some repressive countries score better on internet freedom compared to traditional press freedom. Example: ‘test run’ on Egypt and China both showed a higher score on IGIF.

IGIF methodology will allow long-term tracking of interaction between government-imposed restrictions and civil society response.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF IGIF REPORTS FOR ACTIVISTS : Tool for identifying trends and degree of restriction or monitoring within country. Advocacy tool to identify deterioration or improvement to lobby governments, particularly in comparison to other countries. Narrative reports will track legal developments, mechanisms of control and surveillance, and less-publicized efforts to limit internet freedom. Can facilitate awareness of risks among users, encouraging them to take steps to protect themselves.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF IGIF REPORTS FOR ACTIVISTS :

Tool for identifying trends and degree of restriction or monitoring within country.

Advocacy tool to identify deterioration or improvement to lobby governments, particularly in comparison to other countries.

Narrative reports will track legal developments, mechanisms of control and surveillance, and less-publicized efforts to limit internet freedom.

Can facilitate awareness of risks among users, encouraging them to take steps to protect themselves.

ADDITIONAL USES OF IGIF REPORTS: Tool for donors and media development implementers to identify trends and degree of restriction or monitoring within country As data source or indicator for Global Network Initiative Legislation such as GOFA MCA and other foreign assistance programs As assessment/risk report for technology companies

ADDITIONAL USES OF IGIF REPORTS:

Tool for donors and media development implementers to identify trends and degree of restriction or monitoring within country

As data source or indicator for

Global Network Initiative

Legislation such as GOFA

MCA and other foreign assistance programs

As assessment/risk report for technology companies

More information is available by contacting Karin Deutsch Karlekar at [email_address] Robert Guerra [email_address]