Brett Solomon: Transparency - the new norm

What is Access?

Access is a global movement for digital freedom.

Access’ mission is to ensure open global internet access and an uncensored and secure digital sphere.

Access seeks to use action, policy and technology to achieve real change -- particularly for those living on the other side of the firewall.

Members in 180 countries.

The ContextRecent events sweeping the Middle

East – in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and beyond – reaffirm the need for an open, secure internet that supports all members of society.

Transparency

“The way to make government responsible is to hold it accountable. And the way to make government accountable is make it transparent so that the American people can know exactly what decisions are being made, how they’re being made, and whether their interests are being well served.”

Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States

“To radically shift regime behavior we must think clearly and boldly for if we have learned anything, it is that regimes do not want to be changed. We must think beyond those who have gone before us, and discover technological changes that embolden us with ways to act in which our forebears could not.”

Julian Assange, 2006

Article 19

The tools

The tools

Article 19

 Concurrent and Contradictory Forces

Security/Control – classification and confidentiality of information in the interests of the state; censorship of information and the internet shutdown.

• Transparency

• Transparency

AccessNearly 4 out of 5 people around the world

believe that internet access is a fundamental human right, but more than 30% of the world lives behind a firewall.

Access’ Strategy

Access’ strategy is threefold:

1. Developing new technologies for citizens on the ‘other side of the firewall;’

2. Providing thought leadership on the new frontier of digital rights and transparency;

3. Building a mass global citizens’ movement to advocate for an open digital sphere

and support civil society activists.