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irrepressible.info an amnesty international campaign

Amnesty is urging web users to take action on behalf of individuals persecuted and imprisoned for expressing their opinions online. Act now by calling on governments to stop the unwarranted restriction of freedom of expression online and challenge internet companies - such as Yahoo!, Google and Microsoft - who cooperate with internet censorship.

See http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10580 for related stories.

About this campaign

The web is a great tool for sharing ideas and freedom of expression. However, efforts to try and control the Internet are growing. Internet repression is reported in countries like China, Vietnam, Tunisia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria. People are persecuted and imprisoned simply for criticising their government, calling for democracy and greater press freedom, or exposing human rights abuses, online.

But Internet repression is not just about governments. IT companies have helped build the systems that enable surveillance and censorship to take place. Yahoo! have supplied email users’ private data to the Chinese authorities, helping to facilitate cases of wrongful imprisonment. Microsoft and Google have both complied with government demands to actively censor Chinese users of their services.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It is one of the most precious of all rights. We should fight to protect it.

From http://irrepressible.info/about

About this Pledge

An Amnesty International delegation handed in a petition of 50,000 signatures to this pledge in November 2006 at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Athens, before an audience of governments and companies from across the world.

The IGF process continues and so does Amnesty's fight for freedom of expression online. Irrepressible.info will continue to collect signatures to the pledge and use them to campaign against internet repression.

The more people who sign up, the louder our voice. Please read and sign our pledge.

"I believe the Internet should be a force for political freedom, not repression. People have the right to seek and receive information and to express their peaceful beliefs online without fear or interference.

I call on governments to stop the unwarranted restriction of freedom of expression on the Internet – and on companies to stop helping them do it."

To sign go to http://irrepressible.info/pledge

Free Web and email policy guidance

The ePolicy Institute and MessageLabs combine to bring you this best practice guide to implementing, updating and enforcing your email and web acceptable usage policy;

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Web based ‘office software’ – a more flexible option?

Child Protection in the Digital Environment

Monday 25th June 2007 - Copthorne Tara Hotel, Scarsdale Place, Kensington, London W8 5SR

Aims and Objectives

The number of children and young people accessing the internet and communicating online via their PCs, mobile phones and games consoles is increasing at a rapid rate. As children are spending more time online it has become increasingly important for parents, carers and teachers to engage with children's online activity and encourage positive use of the technologies that are available to them, whilst also avoiding the dangers.

Keeping children and young people safe online today not only includes preventing grooming by paedophiles, but also protection from 'cyberbullying' by peers and encouraging responsible use of popular social networking sites.

Capita's second national conference on protecting children online will bring together representatives from schools, the police, children's services and industry to consider and discuss the tools and strategies available to keep children safe in the digital environment.

Attend this conference to update your knowledge with the most recent research and practice into online safety for children and young people.

Benefits of Attending

• Find out how the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre is working with parents, teachers, police and industry to protect children online
• Hear about the latest guidance from the Home Office on how to protect children using social networking sites
• Develop your understanding of how to work together with other agencies to enable child-friendly use of mobile technologies
• Find out how to empower parents and carers to get more involved with their children's online activities
• Hear examples of how to prevent and tackle 'cyberbullying'.
• Pick up practical tips and resources to share with parents, carers and colleagues
• Take this opportunity to network with peers and colleagues in a neutral forum

Key Speakers Include:

• Chair: Dr Jo Bryce, Director of Research, Cyberspace Research Unit, University of Central Lancashire
• Paul Clark, Director of Children's Services London Borough of Harrow and Association of Directors of Social Services Lead on Child Protection
• Stephen Carrick-Davies, Chief Executive Childnet International
• Sarah Dyer, Director Beatbullying
• Annie Mullins, Head of Content Standards Vodafone
• Dr Rachel O'Connell, Chief Safety Officer, BEBO
• John Carr, Associate Director, Children and Technology Unit, NCH

You can view a more detailed description of subjects being discussed as well as who should attend, booking form and prices by downloading the brochure from Capita Conferences

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