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[FYI] Encryption and the fight for human rights
- To: debate@fitug.de
- Subject: [FYI] Encryption and the fight for human rights
- From: Horns@t-online.de (Axel H. Horns)
- Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 09:27:06 +0100
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http://www.msnbc.com:80/news/234803.asp
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The fight for rights on
the Internet Human
rights activists say
cryptography saves lives
By
Alan
Boyle
MSNBC
ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 24 _ The borderless realm of the
Internet has become contested ground for human rights
groups. On one hand, governments around the world are
cracking down on the free flow of electronic
information, as illustrated by China's imprisonment of
a Web page designer. On the other hand, human rights
groups are using strong cryptography and other Internet
tools to fight those same repressive governments. "A
growing percentage of human rights work will take place
in cyberspace," one activist predicts.
`Human rights
groups are relying
on the Internet
more and more to
speak out,
document and
draw the world's
attention to human
rights violations.'
_ STEPHEN HANSEN
AAAS' Directorate for
Science and Policy
Programs
CYBER-ACTIVISM goes back almost as far
as the
Internet itself. But the rise of the Internet
in the developing world _ even in countries
ruled by repressive regimes _ has given
activists an increasingly valuable lifeline
to supporters around the world.
The human rights dimension of the
Internet was the
theme of a session Friday at the annual
meeting of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science.
"Human rights groups are relying on
the Internet more
and more to speak out, document and draw the
world's attention to human rights
violations," said Stephen Hansen of AAAS'
Directorate for Science and Policy Programs.
To be sure, there's a dark side as
well as a bright side
to the story: Some governments are finding
ways to eavesdrop on the Internet, just as
they monitor mail and phone communications.
One need look no further than the case of Web
designer Lin Hai, who China sentenced
Wednesday to two years in prison for
exchanging thousands of e-mail addresses with
a U.S.-based dissident publication.
[...]
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