What’s at stake? Examples of violations of digital rights include: ● censorship and limits on freedom of expression ● online abuse, information misuse, and misinformation ● personal information tracked, monitored, shared and sold without consent ● ‘black box’ algorithms that make unaccountable and unfair decisions ● harassment and hate speech on social media ● undermining of democratic processes ● weakening of public faith in institutions ● vendor lock-in for public services
Why now? ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Increased capacity for surveillance by corporations and governments Rise in hate speech/ curbing of freedom of expression Widening digital divide (inequity in access to internet and digital literacy) Targeting of vulnerable populations Net Neutrality and privacy protections at risk in some countries Trust in institutions is falling “Smart” Cities projects prioritize technology over people
local
Why cities? Cities are frequently the closest democratic institutions to communities and are dealing with growing consequences when it comes to digital rights violations.
people, business, government, civil society: participatory action plan
cities have in common: people impacted, challenges, interests, principles, goal
global UN Internet Rights (IGF) UN Declaration of Human Rights
What can cities do?
1.Public opinion leadership and advocate residents concerns 2.Being an agile testbed for new policies and rules 3.Legislating and managing public spaces and services 4.Use purchasing power (2 billion euro annually)