Lucy Eckley’s Post

Today, Australia’s Information Commissioners discussed the importance of citizen access to government information, as part of celebrating the International Access to Information Day (IAID). Some of my takeaways: - Elizabeht Tydd (Cth IC) mentioned “data stewardship” as a new Australian Public Service value which should emphasise the government’s task of being the custodian of a single source of truth of information about every citizen. There is a need to understand what information citizens want and how to provide it on a proactive basis. Data access is essential for government accountability. - Joanne Kummrow (Qld IC) pointed to access as a human right. Public authorities should come to access as the right thing to do as part of their government/citizen contract, rather than a compliance exercise. There is a need to technically ensure good data classification and categorisation. Moving to digital media, governments have no excuse not to give access to data. - Sean Morrison (Vic IC) praised the freedom of information reform in Victoria, being one of last few states with a “pull” but no “push” access right. He calls for plain and simple legislation that would be easily understood by citizens. Cost of compliance should drop once the right of access is implemented properly. - Rachel McCullen (NSW IC) felt strange thinking of disclosure logs as a novelty with NSW being on second gen (i.e. push) access right for over 15 years. Her focus is on data discoverability which will help agencies understand what data they hold, how they use it in decision-making about citizens and how they can provide access. Access really encourages the democratic process where citizens highlight and discuss issues and enable authorities to take appropriate action. - Associate Professor Johan Lidberg pointed out that politically, it is important to get the ministers on board. However, even principal officers often exercise their discretion and do not necessarily follow ministerial direction on access, so their buy-in is also very important. https://lnkd.in/eiU-Yc45 #freedomofinformation #foi #dataaccess #accountability #governmentaccountability

📢 Let's find out more about speakers for the #DSA Webinar! 🗓️ Date: 3 September 2024 🕒 Time: 14.45 - 16.00 CET 🎤 We are joined by: Tommaso Chiamparino (European Commission, DG Justice) Martina Maiello (European Commission, DG Connect) together with Public Authorities and Civil Society Organisations 👉 Don't miss out on this insightful discussion! The Digital Services Act (#DSA) entered into force in February 2024. Marking a pivotal moment in EU leadership on online content regulation, the DSA shifts EU strategy on combating #hatespeech towards a proactive paradigm by giving the Commission oversight over cooperation between social media platforms and other key actors alongside powers to fine platforms and scrutinise Social Media algorithms. 👉 What can you expect from this webinar? 1️⃣ key findings of the new Facing Facts Digital Services Act (DSA) policy brief : https://lnkd.in/eqvyGPQq 2️⃣ key parts of the DSA relevant to monitoring efforts and the hate speech response system 3️⃣ DSA ecosystem map developed by Facing Facts, detailing the work, roles, relationships, and responsibilities of different actors. 4️⃣ exchange with representatives from the European Commission DG Connect, focusing on addressing key questions and issues identified in the DSA policy brief produced by Facing Facts. 🔗More info & registration: https://lnkd.in/eXdxnGPA Complete the registration form with your name, email, and contact information. Help us meet our co-funding target by making a voluntary contribution (Suggested contribution: 10€). 🤝 You will make sure we can keep putting on great webinars like this one and that we can keep supporting our community in their amazing work to monitor and respond to hate speech in Europe. #DSAWebinar #DigitalServicesAct #OnlineSafety #HateSpeech #EUPolicy

Detecting disinformation in the digital age made easy by BBC experts - book your space here: https://lnkd.in/ePErTEGa

#Policy 💬 💻 The Digital Services Act (DSA) is set to transform digital governance across the EU but who is in the backstage? Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs) are key players in the proper enforcement of the DSA serving, among other things, as central hubs for user complaints and certifying third-party actors. Behind the scenes of creating a safe online environment, DSCs face numerous obstacles. To better understand these challenges, EPD and partners hosted 3 focus groups with DSCs, Civil Society and Academics. Our Digital Democracy team gathered insights, highlighted challenges and proposes recommendations to the European Commission in this brief 🖇 https://bit.ly/3NeDNwc 📝 Daniela A. Rincón Miriam Candelú Tamera Allen, LL.M. 🤝 Civitates - The European Democracy Fund Democracy Reporting International

Today, we are publishing our recommendations for the next European Commission, setting out the agenda for a European Union where the information environment is open, decentralised, fair, diverse and inclusive.  For over a decade, the flow of information, how people see, read, hear, and share it, has been controlled by a handful of private companies. This concentration of information power presents serious threats to civic space, fundamental rights and democracy. The next European Commission will have a unique opportunity to address those challenges. We believe it should do so through:  - Addressing the concentration of power that distorts the information environment and increasing the protection of media freedom, pluralism and journalists, the Commission must focus on the effective implementation and enforcement of key pieces of legislation including #DMA #DSA #EMFA and anti-#SLAPP Directive and #AIAct - Ensuring that human rights are integrated in the design, development and deployment of the infrastructure of the internet - Increasing commitment to transparency. EU institutions must open up to the public, improve their own transparency and access to information  - Advocating for free expression and related rights online and offline through cooperation in the international forum, promoting an open, diverse, and resilient information ecosystem worldwide. Have a look at our recommendations in more detail, spread the word and download! Do get in touch if you have any questions. https://lnkd.in/eqUv77Yw

The Forum, Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) and more than 20 of its members and partners are calling upon the member States of the OECD - OCDE to strengthen the forthcoming Recommendation on Information Integrity. While this initiative to adopt an international instrument to safeguard information integrity and hold online platforms to account is welcomed, it could be strengthened to set the highest democratic standards. To do so, we call upon OECD States to ensure that the Recommendation: - underlines that any framework for information integrity must be compliant with international human rights laws and obligations - that access to platforms data is available to public interest actors, free of charge and according to fair and transparent criteria - enshrines a principle of neutrality for platforms - enshrines human rights respecting business models and advertising models - encourages plurality of information sources by unbundling of content hosting and content curation, algorithmic pluralism, fair compensation and due prominence of public interest media - ensures multistakeholder governance and meaningful participation of civil society actors, journalists, and other concerned communities in the governance of information integrity Read our detailed comments on the draft Recommendation. OECD Public Governance Craig Matasick Africa Freedom of Information Centre Aláfia Lab Agência Pública Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) CyberPeace Institute DW Akademie Derechos Digitales Fondation Hirondelle Fundación Gabo Impress IT for Change Maharat Foundation OBSERVACOM Samir Kassir Foundation CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation Free Press Unlimited Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Together with the Forum on Information and Democracy and the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), the CyberPeace Institute is urging OECD - OCDE member states to enhance the upcoming Recommendation on Information Integrity. While we welcome this initiative to establish an international framework for safeguarding information integrity and holding online platforms accountable, we believe it can be further strengthened to uphold the highest democratic standards. Read the detailed comments on the draft Recommendation here. https://lnkd.in/ey73geRN

The introduction of the #EU Digital Services Act (DSA) marks a new era of platform regulation. Can it strike the right balance between regulating harmful content such as hate speech and preserving freedom of expression in #digital spaces? Some nine months after the #DSA came into force, the DSA Research Network is launching its first expert roundtable. As a key element of the project, the “Circle of Friends” serves as a sounding board for the research conducted within the project and helps shape the project’s #research focus for 2025. Together with experts from NGOs, regulatory bodies, and academia, we discuss emerging topics concerning the DSA, identify needs for scientific insight and explore different methods to fill those gaps. The network also aims to make recommendations for its proper implementation and possible areas to reform. 👉 About the roundtable: https://lnkd.in/g8D-y49u The DSA Research Network is a collaboration between the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Societ (HIIG), the Leibniz-Institut für Medienforschung | Hans-Bredow-Institut, and the DSA Observatory. The project is funded by Stiftung Mercator GmbH. 👉 Learn more about the DSA Research Network: https://lnkd.in/gYCvS9RM

Today we ARTICLE 19 launch our #manifesto for the next European Commission with concerns around #informationintegrity and #informationpower and a plea for the focus to be on #implementation and #enforcement. Please spread the word, download and drop us a line if you have any questions. #marketpower #freedomofexpression #EU #elections #digitalrights

What should be the agenda of the next EU commission to advance protection of the right of freedom of expression and access to information ? We have laid down a manifesto for the EU Commission that is out today! Out of the 5 priorities, we demand more transparent institutions and a more advanced legislation to access information held by EU bodies. Do check it out!