[LINK] Freedom vs. Terrorism, incl. Role of Internet

[Roger Clarke]

 From EPIC Alert 12.06     http://www.epic.org/alert/EPIC_Alert_12.06.html

>========================================================================
>[2] Madrid Summit Urges Democratic Response to Threats of Terrorism
>========================================================================
>
>World leaders, policy experts, and civil society representatives
>gathered in Madrid, Spain, to commemorate the victims of the railway
>train bombing of March 11, 2004 and to consider how democratic
>governments should best respond to the threat of future acts of
>terrorism. The International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism, and
>Security concluded with the release of the Madrid Agenda. The statement
>is "an agenda for action for Governments, institutions, civil society,
>the media and individuals," and "[a] global democratic response to the
>global threat of terrorism." Among other recommendations, the leaders of
>democratic governments proposed "[t]he creation of a global citizens
>network, linking the leaders of civil society at the forefront of the
>fight for democracy from across the world, taking full advantage of
>web-based technologies and other innovative forms of communication."
>
>At the closing plenary session UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged
>governments to safeguard human rights and the rule of law. Mr. Annan
>said that "many measures which States are currently adopting to counter
>terrorism infringe on human rights and fundamental freedoms." Mr. Annan
>warned that "compromising human rights cannot serve the struggle against
>terrorism. On the contrary, it facilitates achievement of the
>terrorist's objective -- by ceding to him the moral high ground, and
>provoking tension, hatred and mistrust of government among precisely
>those parts of the population where he is most likely to find recruits."
>
>A special session on "Democracy, Terrorism and the Internet" issued a
>declaration, "The Infrastructure of Democracy," urging governments to
>understand that an open Internet, like democratic government, provides
>the best response to future acts of terrorism. According to the
>declaration, "The Internet is fundamentally about openness,
>participation, and freedom of expression for all -- increasing the
>diversity and reach of information and ideas." The declaration also
>urged governments to avoid restrictions on anonymity, which "would be
>highly unlikely to stop determined terrorists, but would have a chilling
>effect on political activity and thereby reduce freedom and
>transparency."
>
>The Varsavsky Foundation, in collaboration with the Spanish government,
>helped organize the event and supported civil society participation.
>
>International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism, and Security:
>
>       http://english.safe-democracy.org
>
>The Madrid Agenda:
>
>       http://english.safe-democracy.org/agenda/the-madrid-agenda.html
>
>Speech of Kofi Annan:
>
>       http://www.epic.org/redirect/annanspeech.html
>
>The Infrastructure of Democracy:
>
>       http://www.thepublicvoice.org/news/infra_dem.html
>
>The Infrastructure of Democracy (Spanish):
>
>       http://www.proyectoisla.com/mangasverdes/?p=673
>
>The Varsavsky Foundation:
>
>       http://english.varsavskyfoundation.org/atocha_workshop
>
>The Public Voice:
>
>       http://www.thepublicvoice.org
...

-- 
Roger Clarke              http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/

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Visiting Professor in the Baker Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre, UNSW
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program, University of Hong Kong
Visiting Fellow in Computer Science,  Australian National University