Role:
Conference Chair, Programme Chair
About the conference:
Date: June 6, 2023
Host: AccessNow, RightsCon 2023
Location: San José, Costa Rica
“Empowering the Digital Citizen” was a one-day event hosted by Access Now in Costa Rica during RightsCon 2023 and led by me as the chair and programme chair. The programme and the intention behind the event was to examine the enhancement of digital participation on netizens across the global, their participation in pushing back against some content policies, and online safety in general and networked activities and participation in the digital space. The event kicked with an exploration of the interface between tech platforms and civil society organizations, focusing on effective communication strategies for advocating a healthier online space. The conversation then took us towards a human rights approach to online content moderation, emphasizing the need for a multi-stakeholder, collaborative strategy to manage harmful online content.
The event tackled the prevalent issue of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, discussing the best practices for implementing interventions. A significant focus was creating an open, inclusive, accountable, and transparent Internet that serves the global public interest.
The conference speakers addressed the potential of AI, Web3, and digital media innovations in creating socially conscious digital ecosystems. The dialogues delved into challenges to civic integrity, ethical reporting, and the rise of networked authoritarianism. Lastly, the conference presented the attendees with real examples of navigating a data ecosystem that could safeguard elections amid political uncertainty, emphasizing free, transparent, and accessible electoral systems.
Agenda:
Village introduction and welcome message
Speakers:
Ahmed X. Medien (Event and Village Chair)
Hallie J. Stern (Disarm Foundation, Event Host)
Maia Mazurkiewicz (Alliance4Europe, Event Host)
Advocating for a Social Internet: Insights from the Integrity Institute Founders on Effectively Engaging with Tech Platforms
Speakers:
Sahar Massachi (Integrity Institute, Co-Founder)
Jeff Allen (Integrity Institute, Co-Founder)
Finding Common Ground: A Human Rights Approach to Online Content Moderation (25 mins)
Speakers:
Holly Richards (Oversight Board)
Pamela San Martín (Former Electoral Councilor at the National Electoral Institute (INE) in Mexico, Oversight Board Member)
Interventions to Address Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, from Ideation to Implementation
Speakers:
Theodora (Theo) Skeadas (National Democratic Institute)
Paulina Ibarra (Fundacion Multitudes)
Ixchel G. Aguirre (Luchadoras)
Building Bridges: Achieving an Open, Inclusive, Accountable, and Transparent Internet
Speakers:
Adam Peake (ICANN)
Swati Punia (Centre for Communication Governance at National Law University Delhi)
Rebuilding Trust in Innovation: Pioneering Socially Conscious and Sustainable Digital Ecosystems with AI, Web3, and Media Innovations
Speakers: Jenn Halweil (#BeyondLab)
Building Competencies for Civic Integrity Professionals: Strengthening Advisory Relationships In and Out of Tech Platforms
Speakers:
Rebecca Thein
Talha Baig
Theodora (Theo) Skeadas,
Nichole Sessego
Sarah Amos
Elizabeth (Liz) Mori Tornheim
Ethical Reporting and Networked Authoritarianism: A Fireside Chat with Giovana Fleck and Alex Esenler”
Speakers:
Giovanna Fleck (Global Voices)
Alex Esenler (Open Archive)
Beyond the Ballot Box: Navigating the Data Ecosystem and Safeguarding Elections Amid Political Uncertainty.
Speakers:
Hallie J. Stern (Disarm Foundation, Event Host)
Maia Mazurkiewicz (Alliance4Europe)
Closing message: Ahmed X. Medien (Event and Conference Chair)
Other Items
Conference for Truth and Trust Online 2022
Conferences, Event Agenda
Finding Common Ground: A Human Rights Approach to Online Content Moderation (25 mins)
Misinformation Village, Podcasts
MisinfoCon @ International Journalism Festival 2022
Conferences, Event Agenda