[Air-L] UNESCO call for research proposals

[Joly MacFie]

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/unesco_calls_for_research_proposals_case_studies_on_the_role_of_internet_intermediaries_in_promoting_freedom_of_expression_on_internet/

UNESCO calls for research proposals: case studies on the role of Internet
intermediaries in promoting freedom of expression on Internet
UNESCO launches a call for research proposals in order to identify
principles for good practices and processes related to Internet
intermediaries (such as Internet service providers, search engines, online
media, and social media) that can protect freedom of expression by ensuring
that any of limitations of this right are consistent with international
standards. This project contributes to promoting online freedom of
expression through assembling and analyzing empirical data, encouraging
self-regulation and providing practical recommendations to industry, States
and policy makers.

Interested researchers and organizations are invited to submit their
proposals *by 13 September 2013*.

UNESCO, as enshrined in its Constitution, promotes the “free flow of ideas
by word and image”. This covers promoting a free, open and accessible
Internet space as part of promoting comprehensive freedom of expression
both online and offline.

Internet intermediaries play a unique role in linking authors of content
and audiences. They may either protect or jeopardize end user rights to
free expression, given their role in capturing, storing, searching,
sharing, transferring and processing large amount of information, data and
user-generated content. This role is particularly prominent in the cases of
search engines and internet-service providers (ISPs), hosting providers,
cloud computing services, online social networks and media houses.

This project aims to identify principles for good practices and processes
that are consistent with international standards for free expression that
Internet intermediaries may follow in order to protect the human rights of
end users online. Using a case study methodology, the research will
evaluate how Internet intermediaries can either uphold or compromise
freedom of expression. Up to five major categories of Internet
intermediaries can be identified for research, bearing in mind that it may
be richer and less costly to focus in upon fewer sectors:

   - Internet search engines and portals (Google, yahoo!, MSN, Baidu,
   Sina.com, etc.)
   - Social media networks (Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Sina Weibo, etc.)
   - Online media with user-generated content (BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, online
   newspapers, etc.)
   - ISPs, including telecommunication, cable and mobile operators
   (Verizon, AT&T, free.fr, Orange, T-mobile, Nokia)
   - Data processing, web hosting providers and cloud computing services,
   including big data hosts and Domain Name Registries (Navisite, Akamai,
   ICANN, Register.com, Verizon)

This project will make a unique contribution by gathering, evaluating and
presenting empirical data and in-depth research on this topic that
encourages principled self-regulation and particularly provides practical
recommendations for how Internet intermediaries can meet international
standards that respect the normative and fundamental value of free speech.

The results of this project will inform various actors who are
intermediaries, as well as other stakeholders, and will also contribute to
developing an international set of principles for good practices.  Research
will possibly be presented at events around the World Summit on the
Information Society and on Internet Governance Forum in 2014. The final
research will likely be published as part of UNESCO’s Series on Internet
Freedom and, budget allowing, be translated to all six UN official
languages, which will inform UNESCO’s 195 Member States and other
international policy-makers on intermediaries-related policy making to
promote online freedom.

*UNESCO, therefore, invites interested researchers and organizations to
submit their proposals, according to the Background note
<http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/news/background_note_cs_role_of_internet_intermediaries.pdf>
and General Terms of
Reference<http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/news/general_terms_of_reference_cs_role_of_internet_intermediaries.pdf>,
by email to Ms Xianhong Hu, before noon (CET), 13 September 2013. Proposals
should include a detailed description of the research methodology, possible
case studies, timeline and the requested funding.*

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Joly MacFie  218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast
WWWhatsup NYC - http://wwwhatsup.com
 http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com
 VP (Admin) - ISOC-NY - http://isoc-ny.org
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