Technical workshop 2

ANDREW Lih kept everybody glued to their seats beyond the duration of his session with a very interesting presentation on wikis and online collaboration tools. The conference in fact envisions the use of such online tools for continuing collaboration and discussions, and the building of an Asian network for the defense of free expression in cyberspace.

The presentation can be downloaded here. Or you can listen to the audio files: Parts 1 and 2.

Video clips of Day 2 sessions

HERE are more video clips documenting some of today's sessions:

Session 3

• Manuel Quezon III
  
• Rebecca MacKinnon
  
• Andrew Lih

Session 5

• Dini Widiastuti
  
• James Gomez
• Jeff Ooi
  

Session 6

• JV Rufino
  
• Rebecca MacKinnon
  
• Owais Aslan Ali
  

Audio files of Day 2 afternoon sessions

BELOW are available podcasts of the presentations in today's afternoon sessions:

Session 7

• Melinda Quintos de Jesus
• Dinesh Nair

This blog is for everyone

YES, it is. So feel free to blog your thoughts, by way of comments, to initiate a conversation. Or if you have a WordPress account, you can send me your username so I can add you to the blog as a contributor.

Session 7: Protecting cyberspace

HOW can independent online journalists, bloggers, podcasters and news providers protect themselves?

Melinda Quintos de Jesus, executive director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), reminded conference participants of the need for ethical standards and professionalism. View here presentation here.

Dini Widiastuti, Article 19 Asia programme officer, urged delegates to be aware of their rights, particularly Article 19 as applied to cyberspace. Her presentation ca be downloaded here.

Dinesh Nair of SEACEM encouraged everyone to consider hackers as their friends, citing Malaysiakini’s experience with its "volunteer protectors." Download his presentation here.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and Southeast Asian Alliance (SEAPA) briefly introduced their existing projects and programs aimed at protecting bloggers, online writers, and cyberspace in general.

Session 6: Non-legal, non-technological pressures on the Internet

Session 6 focused on pressures on the Internet outside the realm of technology and the law. JV Rufino, editor of the Philippine news portal inq7.net tackled the economic pressures on the online news media. Download his presentation here.

Global Voices Online's Rebecca MacKinnon discussed the business of the Internet, pointing to lessons that can be learned from Google, Yahoo!, MSN in China. Her presentation can be viewed here.

Owais Aslam Ali, director of the Pakistan Press Foundation, talked about the economic factors that affect access to the Internet, emphasizing the need to make it work for "offline communities."

Needs assessment survey form available online

A NEEDS assessment survey to discuss capacities and needs for technology, training, and funding will be facilitated by Premesh Chandran of SEACEM after this afternoon's session. You can download the form here.

Session 5: The battle for the Internet — laws

FOR Session 5, the discussion shifted to the legal framework that governments are employing to curtail freedom of expression online. Dini Widiastuti of Article 19 first gave a scan of traditional media and insult laws affecting the Internet in Asia. Download her presentation here.

James Gomez then tackled Singapore's defamation laws. His presentation can be accessed here.

Next was Malaysian blogger Jeff Ooi who discussed the whole gamut of anti-terrorism and national security laws affecting cyberspace. View his presentation here.

Audio files of Day 2 morning presentations

DELEGATES can also listen to some of the Day 2 morning presentations by clicking on the links below:

Session 4

• Dr. Awab Alvi
• Nart Villeneuve

Session 5

• James Gomez
• Dini Widiastuti

More podcasts will be made available later.

Session 4: The battle for the Internet — technology

DAY 2 of the conference carries the theme, "The Battle for the Internet." The first session was devoted to the use of technology. Isaac Mao talked about the much ballyhooed Great Firewall of China.

Dr. Awab Alvi, a practicing dentist in Karachi, shared the experience of his group, Don't Block the Blog, in its fight against Blogspot's wholesale blacklist of Pakistani blogs as a result of the controversy surrounding cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammed in a bad light. His presentation can be viewed here.

Nart Villeneuve, technical research director of CitizenLab, discussed Open Net Initiative's findings on blocking and filtering in China, Burma, Singapore, Yemen, Iran. Download his presentation here. A lengthier version is available here.