Its research and advocacy efforts focus on issues of the internet, freedom of expression, gender rights, online abuse of women and digital surveillance, and cyber security and internet governance. Anja kovacs, advocates democracy on the internet through her internet democracy project. The project works towards realising feminist visions of the digital in society, by exploring. May 23, 20 the internet as we know it is supposed to be free and open you would be doing a disservice to people if you offer it otherwise. Anjas research currently focuses especially on questions regarding cybersecurity, surveillance and privacy. Anja kovacs speaking at world forum on free media credit. Anja kovacs, addressing indias global cybersecurity concerns, internet democracy project, 2015. Interview with anja kovacs, internet democracy project, at world forum on free media august 9, 2016 greg no comments topics include zero rating and net neutrality. Coding and encoding rights in internet infrastructure. Apr 27, 20 anja kovacs, who runs the internet democracy project, agrees that laws alone cant create a healthy internet culture. Anja kovacs directs the internet democracy project in delhi india, which engages in re search and advocacy on the promises and challenges that the internet poses for democracy and social justice, in india and beyond. Anjas research and advocacy focuses especially on questions regarding freedom of expression, cybersecurity and the architecture of internet governance. India blocks more than 800 sites in web porn crackdown. Anja kovacs directs the internet democracy project in india, which works towards an internet that supports freedom of expression, democracy and.
The letter was signed by sflc, the internet democracy project and other nonprofit organisations, civil society groups, lawyers, public policy professionals, social activists entrepreneurs and concerned citizens to flag the issues of individual privacy in the times of covid19 pandemic. At the internet democracy project, we that is my colleague nayantara ranganathan and myself went to look for answers, through desk research and through fieldwork in haryana and western up, and here is what we found. And, in an environment like india where no checks and balances are in place, that is troubling. Kovacs started her project in 2011 as an initiative that focuses on creating an internet that supports freedom of expression, democracy and social justice in india and beyond. In india, prismlike surveillance slips under the radar. Make blog not war a freedom of expression training for bloggers an initiative of the internet democracy project are you a blogger and interested in deepening your understanding of internet censorship and freedom of expression as they play out in india. Anja kovacs directs the internet democracy project, an initiative at point of view. The national capital witnessed the launch of the online safety summit for women by shethepeople. As noted by shehla rashid shora and anja kovacs, explanation 2 to section 499, for example, could arguably be drawn on to. The potential for misuse and misunderstanding, kovacs believes, is increasing enormously. There is a growing discrepancy and power imbalance between citizens and the state, says anja kovacs of the internet democracy project. The internet and democracy project weblogs at harvard. It will also discourage backdoor bargaining between governments, says anja kovacs of the internet democracy project.
When narendra modi and his troll army massacred the freedom. Her research currently focuses on questions regarding cybersecurity, surveillance and privacy, and regarding freedom of expression, including work on gender, surveillance, bodies and dataveillance and gender and online abuse. Tv about why we need to stand up to online abuse, hate speech and surveillance and make the internet a better place to be in. Jul 04, 2017 anja kovacs, advocates democracy on the internet through her internet democracy project. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the internet democracy project. A scaled effort, that will build on experiences, lessons, of varied organisations to reflect on the future thats ahead of us. After a long fight to make online access unrestricted and nondiscriminatory and ensure that internet service providers dont restrict or favour any content or services, the centre, on july 11, approved the principles of net neutrality in india. Anja s research and advocacy currently focuses on questions. The summit which aims to bring forward and discuss solutions of the increased online breaches and sexual harassment of women through online portals is supported by facebook, colors, and safecity. Anjas research and advocacy focuses especially on questions regarding freedom of expression, cybersecurity and the architecture. Michael kende, thought on internet economy at igf 2015, 2015. Sep 14, 2018 anja kovacs, project director at the internet democracy project, has been heading a detailed study on the trolling that women journalists in particular face in india.
Without such clarifications and the understanding they provide, it is really difficult to mount an effective defence of freedom of expression in india, said anja kovacs, director of internet democracy project in delhi, who has also worked extensively on freedom of speech issue as well. Free speech ends where it harms someones human rights, she says. Giving rise to new ways to exercise the right to freedom of expression, to the potential of fluid identities and to new ways to interact for those with limited offline opportunities, the democratisation of societies through the internet is a phenomenon many have celebrated. The internet architecture has always been controlled by the us. Online safety summit for women powered by shethepeople.
We have to create a culture of civility on the internet. Speaking at a twoday seminar on online trolling called the beast on the block, she said that she and her team studied the social media interactions of ten women journalists in. Is not responding to trolls the best way to deal with online. Tv is an attempt to get all stakeholders together and explore a consolidated approach to safety. His project to redesign central vista was always controversial. Our priority is not safety as an endgoal in itself, but a means of empowerment. Anja kovacs directs the internet democracy project in delhi india, which engages in research and advocacy on the promises and challenges that the internet poses for democracy and social justice, in india and beyond. India says yes to free and fair access to the internet. Anja kovacs directs the internet democracy project in india, which works towards an internet that supports freedom of expression, democracy and social justice, in india and beyond. Anja kovacs, the founder of the internet democracy project, who has been working with cases of cyberbullying across north india, says while the. The project works towards realising feminist visions of the digital in society, by exploring and addressing power imbalances in the areas of norms, governance and infrastructure in india and beyond.
Says anja kovacs of internet democracy project, india still has to decide whether to sign or not. Apr, 20 presenting an analysis of criminal law to online speech through seven case studies, researchers anja kovacs and shehla rashid spoke about the need to change the legal framework governing internet. Anja kovacs of the internet democracy project in delhi, india, agreed. Anja kovacs, director of the internet democracy project in delhi, said.
Cybersecurity, data protection and the digital future of the. Researchers see need to change internet laws the hindu. Dr anja kovacs directs the internet democracy project in delhi. Anja kovacs of the internet democracy project, and a fellow at the new delhibased centre for internet and society, felt that there was a growing discrepancy and power imbalance between citizens and the state and that in the indian scenario, there were no checks and balances in place. Cyberbrics session at th cpdp conference cyberbrics. Anja kovacs from the internet democracy project attended the internet governance forum, 2016, at guagalajara, mexico, with the support of the association for progressive communications. When narendra modi and his troll army massacred the. Anja kovacs directs the internet democracy project in delhi, india, which works for an internet that supports free speech, democracy and social justice in india and beyond. From anja kovacs of the internet democracy project. Pdf criminal law and freedom of expression on the internet in. India, which engages in research and advocacy on the promises and challenges that the internet poses for democracy and social justice in india and beyond. Dr anja kovacs, internet democracy project published on.
Mar 29, 2015 even without section 66a, india lags behind many nations in internet regulations for freer speech activists say india has taken a small yet firm step in the right direction, but even then, its internet laws have some catching up to do. Jovan kurbalija, introduction to internet governance, diplo foundation, 2014 6th edition. Down to earth is a product of our commitment to make changes in the way we manage our environment, protect health and secure livelihoods and economic security for all. Project officer internet democracy project this position has now been closed the internet democracy project is a relatively new, small initiative that seeks to make debates around the governance of the internet intelligible to broad yet diverse audiences, including policy makers and the general pbulic.
Even without section 66a, india lags behind many nations in. Dec 05, 20 if you are designing a new model, it is important that it is as inclusive as possible. Since 2011, the internet democracy project works for an internet that supports freedom of expression, democracy and social justice, in india and beyond through research, advocacy, and dialogue. The event will gather an ample range of stakeholders to discuss with members of the cyberbrics project the most recent policy and technology advancements, regarding the expansion of digital infrastructures, the introduction of 5g technology and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for brics countries. Anja kovacs directs the internet democracy project in delhi. Sep 12, 2017 anja kovacs internet democracy project dr.
Anja kovacs argues that in addition to the traditional state monopoly on power, states also now have a monopoly on surveillance, which has important human rights ramifications. The internet democracy project has joined a global coalition of civil society and technology experts that sent a joint letter to the indian ministry of electronics and information technology on 15 march, asking the government of india to withdraw the draft amendments proposed to the information technology intermediary guidelines rules. Meanwhile, on october 21, 20 at the bali a meeting entitled global multistakeholder collaboration for achieving a safe, secure, and tolerant cyberspace, anja kovacs from the internet democracy project, an indian ngo, advocated for internet rights. Dec 22, 2012 no fear of losing internet freedom till jan 15. Anja kovacs directs the internet democracy project in delhi, india. The growth of the internet in india has created new power dynamics, with the government at the center of a national debate about security and rights.
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