GISWatch

The new edition of Global Information Society Watch 2011 focuses on internet rights and democracy. It features stories from almost 60 countries including on internet in prisons in Argentina and the role of social media during the Arab uprisings. GISW 2011 is out in December but you can read some chapters now online.

“For those who don't know Tunisia,” writes Khaled Koubaa, Global Information Society Watcher based in Tunis. “Tunisia is a small country but a great nation. It was the first Arab country to abolish slavery in 1848, the first Arab country to establish a constitution in 1861, the first Arab country to abolish polygamy in 1956 and legalise abortion in 1973. And now Tunisia is the first Arab ...

Fishermen from coastal villages in southern India can now access information on weather conditions and the market in their own language via mobile phone. This has not only improved the standard of living for their entire communities, but it has also saved the lives of a number of fishermen who would have died at sea. This article from Global Information Society Watch 2009 – Advancing human ri...

A major report that reveals how vulnerable the internet as we know it is, has just been published in French and Spanish by two global civil society organisations. The annual report, called Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch), was in November by the Association for Progressive Communications and Dutch-funder Hivos. GISWatch 2009 is entitled Access to online information and knowledge – ...

A new report that reveals how vulnerable the internet as we know it is, has just been published by two global civil society organisations. The annual report, called Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch), was released today by APC and Dutch funder Hivos. GISWatch 2009 is entitled “Access to online information and knowledge – advancing human rights and democracy”.

The Global Information Society Watch 2009 report unpacks the key issues impacting on access to online information and knowledge, including discussions on intellectual property rights, knowledge rights, open standards and access to educational materials and libraries.

How do we ensure access to the internet is a human right enjoyed by all? This is one of the critical questions asked by GISWatch 2008, which highlights the importance of people’s access to ICT infrastructure, where and how countries are getting it right or wrong, and what can be done about it.

GISWatch monitors the implementation and follow-up of key international agreements about ICT policies and their relationship to development, including WSIS and other ICT policy processes at international, regional and national level. This first report in the series focuses on participation.