I am in attendance at IGF, but missed this incident. However, I could probably find out more from others who were there at an Association of Progressive Communications event this evening. There is a video here: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/15/un-goons-destroy-aca.html Cheers, Nathaniel James Executive Director | OneWebDay, Inc. 202.470.6059 | Skype: james.nathaniel 2451 18th St NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20009 [log in to unmask] | @OWD on Twitter www.OneWebDay.org Get Organized, Get Support at my.OneWebDay.org On Nov 16, 2009, at 9:27 PM, Robin Gross wrote: > Thanks for forwarding this story, Fouad. I was very disappointed to > hear the UN Security Forces were being used to remove unsanctioned > content from the meeting. However, I'm not there, and am very keen > to hear from those who were present at this incident more facts and > impressions about what actually happened and why, as there are > conflicting reports, and this is a very serious incident. > > Thanks, > Robin > > > On Nov 16, 2009, at 1:11 AM, Fouad Bajwa wrote: > >> Forwarded for information: >> >> IGF 2009 event rattled by UN Security Office: >> http://www.mis-asia.com/news/articles/igf-2009-event-rattled-by-un-security-office >> >> "If we cannot discuss topics about Internet censorship and >> surveillance policy at a forum about Internet governance then what is >> the point of something like the IGF," said Ron Deibert, director of >> the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for >> International Studies and one of ONI's principal investigators. >> By Rabia Garib >> >> KARACHI, 15 NOVEMBER 2009 - An anti-censorship group holding an event >> Sunday at the United Nations-sponsored Internet Governance Forum >> (IGF) >> in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, was disrupted by UN officials who demanded >> removal of a poster that mentioned Internet firewalls in China. >> >> According to a Pakistani delegate, Shahzad Ahmed of >> Bytesforall.net, a >> reception hosted by Open Net Initiative (ONI) was rattled by IGF >> security, who objected to a poster advertising "Access Controlled", a >> book being introduced at the event. "The poster was thrown on the >> floor and we were told to remove it because of the reference to China >> and Tibet. We refused, and security guards came and removed it. The >> incident was witnessed by many," Ahmed reported. >> >> The poster promoting ONI's forthcoming book, "Access Controlled" was >> removed by the IGF's organizers because a sentence in the poster >> apparently violated UN policy. The sentence in question reads, "The >> first generation of Internet controls consisted largely of building >> firewalls at key Internet gateways; China's famous "Great Firewall of >> China" is one of the first national Internet filtering systems." >> >> "If we cannot discuss topics about Internet censorship and >> surveillance policy at a forum about Internet governance then what is >> the point of something like the IGF," said Ron Deibert, director of >> the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for >> International Studies and one of ONI's principal investigators. >> >> Deibert, one of the organizers of the reception, said he will file a >> complaint against the censorship of the event and send it to the >> United Nations Human Rights Commission. >> >> "We condemn this undemocratic act of censoring our event just because >> someone is trying to impress or be in the good graces of the Chinese >> government. It is ironic that while people are allowed to gather here >> to discuss freedom of expression online, censorship and surveillance >> practices on the Internet, we are being restricted in expressing our >> views," said Al Alegre of the Foundation for Media Alternatives, a >> member of the ONI Network. >> >> -- >> Regards. >> -------------------------- >> Fouad Bajwa >> Advisor & Researcher >> ICT4D & Internet Governance >> Member Multistakeholder Advisory Group (IGF) >> Member Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus (IGC) >> My Blog: Internet's Governance >> http://internetsgovernance.blogspot.com/ >> Follow my Tweets: >> http://twitter.com/fouadbajwa >> MAG Interview: >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATVDW1tDZzA > > > > > IP JUSTICE > Robin Gross, Executive Director > 1192 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 USA > p: +1-415-553-6261 f: +1-415-462-6451 > w: http://www.ipjustice.org e: [log in to unmask] > > >