UPDATE: The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, David Kaye, will deliver opening remarks.

It is our pleasure to invite all IGF participants to join an advocacy and research brainstorming meeting on the issue of corporate accountability for digital rights. Jointly hosted by Ranking Digital Rights and Internews on the eve of the Internet Governance Forum, this meeting will gather a diverse group of activists and researchers working at the intersection of Internet governance, business and human rights. The goal is to brainstorm concrete ideas for how civil society advocates and academic researchers can use the Corporate Accountability Index data and indicators for their own work at the national, regional, and international levels.  Click here to find the meeting on the official IGF interactive schedule.

Logistical details

When:     Monday, November 9, 2015, from 2-6pm

Where: Internet Governance Forum

Poeta Ronaldo Cunha Lima Conference Center

Joao Pessoa, Brazil

Workshop Room 8

The event begins with a presentation of the results of the inaugural Ranking Digital Rights Corporate Accountability Index, which evaluates 16 telecommunication and Internet companies headquartered around the world on 31 indicators examining policies and disclosures affecting users’ freedom of expression and privacy. The next two segments of the meeting will focus on brainstorming concrete ideas for advocacy and research projects using the Index’s findings. We invite you to peruse the results on the interactive website, download the report (and even the raw data) and view the webcast of our launch event in advance of the IGF.

Agenda:

2-3pm – Presentation of the Ranking Digital Rights Corporate Accountability Index and discussion of findings of greatest interest to global civil society and international researchers

Opening Remarks: David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression

Rebecca MacKinnon, presenter

Discussants: 

• Donny BU, ICT Watch, Indonesia
• Mohamed Najem, Social Media Exchange, Lebanon

3:15-4:30pm – Advocacy brainstorm. Practical discussion about ideas for using the RDR index data for advocacy at the national, regional, and global level.

Allon Bar, Moderator

Discussants:

• Peter Micek, Access Now
• Nighat Dad, Digital Rights Foundation, Pakistan

4:45-6pm – Research brainstorm – Practical discussion about research questions and possible ideas for research projects using RDR’s findings as a starting point.

Nathalie Marechal, moderator

Discussants:

• David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression
• Eduardo Bertoni, CELE

While the event is open to all IGF participants, we would appreciate if people can RSVP via this link to let us know you are coming and what you are interested in talking about.