Mapping Digital Media: Freedom of Expression Rights in the Digital Age

REFERENCE SERIES NO. 6MAPPING DIGITAL MEDIA: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION RIGHTS IN THE DIGITAL AGEBy Andrew PuddephattApril 2011Freedom of Expression Rights in the Digital AgeWRITTEN BY1Andrew PuddephattTh is paper assesses the impact of digital communications on the right to freedom of expression. Specifi cally, it examines the internet and world wide web as a new platform for freedom of expression, one that encourages peer-to-peer collaboration as well as traditional one-to-many forms of communication. Th e paper also considers the jurisdictional vacuum created by the web and internet and the techniques developed to deal with this vacuum, with a focus on intermediaries such as internet service providers. Finally, it looks at new tools to promote freedom of expression, and new threats to it, including a kind of privatised censorship emerging on the internet. New forms of human rights activism need to be developed with a range of international bodies, defi ning normative standards on how free expression should be protected online. At the same time, dialogue and co-operation on these issues should be fostered with digital communication companies.1. Andrew Puddephatt is a director of Global Partners & Associates, in London.