Digital Citizen Summit

Individual Rights, Liberty and the Digital Space: Strengthening Democracy in South Asia

Background

The Internet is a driving force for development, a tool for information exchange, learning, business and e-governance which now connects more than 3.2 billion people from around the world. In the past 5 years, the increasing penetration of the internet and digital media, particularity in developing countries has driven the incredible growth in the number of individuals expressing themselves, engaging, socialising and conducting business online.

As a result of the number of people coming online, questions about privacy, access, expression, assembly etc. in the digital space have been on the rise. All these factors have a bearing on the ability of the individuals to exercise their human rights online.

About

The Friedrich Naumann Stiftung für die Freiheit (FNF) and Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) are co-organising the one-day “Digital Citizen Summit”, with the objective of learning and information sharing, encouraging South Asian regional dialogue; and developing strategic partnerships between individuals and organisations working towards a better understanding and advocacy on individual rights in online spaces.

The Summit will conclude with the formation of working groups divided in thematic areas. These working groups will work together for the next 6 months to discuss, share and strategise. We aim to extend this initiative into an annual regional summit to facilitate long term collaboration towards policy advocacy and action on internet rights.