This week, the Ranking Digital Rights team is in Brussels for RightsCon, an annual conference on digital rights organized by Access Now. We are organizing and participating in several sessions and look forward to discussions with human rights and technology experts and advocates from all over the world.
On Wednesday March 29 at 2:30pm, we will host the European launch of the newly-released 2017 Ranking Digital Rights Corporate Accountability Index, which found that 22 of the world’s leading internet, mobile, and telecommunications companies are leaving users in the dark on their policies affecting free expression and privacy rights. Project director Rebecca MacKinnon will give a brief presentation highlighting the report’s key findings and recommendations, followed by a discussion with panelists and audience members. We hope the session will provide a jumping off point for further conversation throughout RightsCon with people interested in collaborating on research and advocacy. The launch event will be held in “Creativity & Exploration, 1st Floor.”
On Friday March 31 at 12pm, join us for “How to Talk So Companies Will Listen, and Listen So Companies Will Talk: Doing company advocacy and research.” In this roundtable discussion, seasoned researchers and advocates will share how they work to understand company policies and practices, and share insights on the most effective ways to engage with companies for change. Participants will discuss challenges they’ve encountered in their research and advocacy efforts as well as tips and best practices for overcoming them. This session will be held in “Evasion, 1st Floor.”
Rebecca MacKinnon is also speaking in the session, “Everything We Know About Internet Shutdowns,” on Wednesday March 29 at 12pm, in “Palace Ballroom I, Ground Floor.”
The full conference program is available here. Our team will be at RightsCon for the entire conference, so feel free to get in touch if you’d like to connect: info@rankingdigitalrights.org.
