Internet freedom and the promotion of human and civil rights

A talk with Alec Ross, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University

IAI Director Ettore Greco chaired the meeting with Senior Fellow Researcher from Columbia University Alec Ross on the subject of Internet communication and the promotion of human rights. The director introduced the role of the new communication technologies, drawing particular attention to the change in the distribution of power within society, which is challenging political authority and leadership. One of the most important implications is the increase  in social and political movements via the internet.

On this aspect, Ross explained that there has been a shift in the exercise of power through information, from traditional hierarchies (control largely concentrated in media companies or governments) to citizens (that distribute news through the web). This does not necessarily mean that the power of the traditional media is going to disappear; however, the capabilities for the spreading of news that formerly existed only for the people at the top of the hierarchy now exist for ordinary people as well. Moreover, the guest stated, in the context of revolutions, new information technologies enrich information environments, act as accelerators (as protests move much faster), and facilitate ‘leaderlessness’: revolutions are indeed more citizen-centred. However, once a revolution is over, it is equally difficult to govern (even if it is easier to overthrow a government).

Concerning control, Ross believed that as power has spread to the citizens, given the constant reporting of news through the Internet, there has been an increase in mass surveillance programmes (NSAs) which are aimed at detecting terrorist cells - at least in the West. Nevertheless, these programmes threaten privacy: consequently, the issue needs to be addressed in terms of whether privacy is considered a human right or not. There is however going to be an inevitable and steady erosion of privacy, with the continuous increase in new technologies, which will mean a shift to a more open world. Finally, as power flows shift, we notice that technological platforms and cyber domain are becoming domains of warfare as they are being used as means of conflict.