Global Voices Citizen Media Summit

Internet users the world over are facing an increasingly complex landscape of laws intended to protect everything from national security to intellectual property online -- many of which fall under the expansive category of “cybercrime.” While most governments are investing in legislation that limits online activities, a few outliers have sought an alternative approach -- rather than simply restricting or condemning online behaviors that they think are wrong, they have developed civil law defining and protecting the rights of Internet users. From Brazil’s landmark Marco Civil efforts to the Philippine Magna Carta, we are beginning to see a trend in positive law-making for the Internet. Should all governments set out to build their own Magna Cartas for the Internet? What benefits or pitfalls could this bring?

Moderated by Advox editor Ellery Roberts Biddle, this panel will feature Joana Varon and Mong Palatino, both of whom helped draft positive Internet laws in their countries, along with other leading Internet policy experts.