New Zealand Internet Freedom Index

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Joy LiddicoatJudge David HarveyProfessor Charles CrothersShawna FinneganDr Judy McGregor

Objectives

• Stimulate and support awareness of the importance of an open and uncapturable Internet

• Document and promote Internet freedom in New Zealand

• Monitor uptake of the Special Rapporteur’s work on freedom of expression and the Internet

• Document the NZ public’s views on internet freedom/other rights issues and explore the public legitimacy of a proposed set of internet rights.

Methodology

• Research group• Project wiki: http://freedomindex.apc.org • Data collection and literature review• Access to legal information: Judge Harvey• International review: Frank La Rue, APC action

research network, Latin America, South Africa

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Methodology

• Analysis of national context including literature review and analysis of selected issues

• Convening the expert group • Consultations during the global IGF 2012• Analysis of existing survey data from WIPNZ and

other sources and survey NZ public opinion• Developed draft Internet Freedom Index by

March 2013• Presentation at Net Hui 2013

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Results: 29 indicators

• 14/29 compliant eg: basic legal framework; no generic bans / restriction on political content; high access; no State cyber attacks; privacy

• 11/29 non-compliant: DIA filter; protection of journalists and bloggers; legal information; private sector not transparent on content removal;

• 4/29 unclear: access issues; national security and counter-terrorism laws

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Further development

• Monitor continuously eg dashboard• Policy / advocacy recommendations eg

government and private sector transparency and accountability

• Keep monitoring more widely: complex to use - but good for baseline information

• Distribute results in more accessible formats• Research strategy

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Freedom 3.0the internet and rights

Joy Liddicoat@internetrights

Lessons

• Information on NZ internet freedom is patchy• Good information on some topics eg access• Surprising lack of information in others eg

private sector• Framework: component relevance, double

negatives, close out dates• New regulatory developments• Test conclusions

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Trust

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