...The Internet will bring about a new freedom of information and so narrow the technology gap between developed and developing countries. The Internet has emerged as the most rapidly adopted communication mean in history. For the last decades it has built bridges between almost all corners of the world and created the greatest depository of all kinds of information. Access to these new technologies enabled rapid development of all countries. Some states that were always lagging behind the leading countries now do have the possibility to use all facilities of the communicational breakthrough and as a result the difference between them becomes less and less noticeable. The onset of computers on the general population has given a boost to the economy in the world's market. People who weren't much aware of the world became drawn to computers, which in turn brought about the Internet, connecting the world all over. New technologies made it possible to get the information about all new inventions, to be involved in the current political and economical affairs. Third-world countries that have always been somehow separated from the other part of the world now are having the same informational base. They can apply the same technologies in their industry, use the same methods of treatment in medicine, etc. Moreover, now they have a chance to communicate with companies all over the world and get new business partners. All this helps them to get progress in the economical life and increase...
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...local government is a restriction of internet freedom undoubtedly, paralleling this overall dual perspective, it also is an indispensable protection for national citizens. Based on general knowledge, internet is a platform with decentralized nature which can operate independently and privately. In recent years, its nature has been changed. The government can censors every citizens resources of information as well as communication such as the websites accessed, email content and social networking tools by blocking netizens from accessing specific websites and filtering the sensitive wording. According to R.K., V.D., K.C. (2013, p.2), there are two types of censorship which are technical censorship and non-technical censorship. Technical censorship as the name suggests, the utilization of technical system such as different kind of filters and redirection are applied to users software and code to scout and censor the path of internet services of the user, it has no legal base to support but the authority and government are likely use. While non-technical censorship is usually used coordinate with technical censorship, it bases on legal power to restrict and suppress the radical rhetoric through threaten people with cash fines, indictment, and even imprisonment. In the following content, I would like to focus on the part of technical censorship. To a certain extent, internet censorship have definitely restrict the internet freedom of searching services. The...
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...Case: Google withdraws from China John Herkins For years, China’s government has been oppressing the freedom of speech to all of its citizens and reporters. Since the introduction of the internet and the service that it holds, China’s government created its own internet which many analysts say has been intended to control what their citizens can read. Many reporters who have investigated on China’s government and police corruption, propaganda, and censorship are barred out of the country and not let in. Those who have successfully entered the country and get caught investigating sometimes end up in the Black Jail, where they are detained without trial, and forced to leave the country. Google is a huge face of freedom of speech and the providing free information without censorship. A few years ago, congress tried putting through the SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) which created an out lash towards the American Government and an American’s citizen’s right for a free web. Many websites such as Google took part in an internet blackout that informed those of what was going on and how SOPA violates freedom of speech. Google’s China’s domain Google.cn is now redirected to its new website Google.hk. Google is no longer censoring information from the Chinese citizens because of their belief in a free web. The fact that they are standing for what they believe in and taking action in doing so shows their commitment to the cause. China is a large market in which the Google Company...
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...Net Neutrality Internet users are under threat by the rules and regulations demanded by Internet service providers. The implication of this act is the deprivation of our right to free internet access. Hereafter, FCC Tom Wheeler fought back by releasing a plan to defend net neutrality and preserve our rights. Net Neutrality gives Internet users the freedom to access and enjoy any kind of content on the web and protect free speech without any restrictions or limitations. It provides a platform for innovative ideas, which the internet thrives of. This guiding principle is supported by the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Open Internet Order, which was specifically issued to prevent Internet Service Providers (ISP) from blocking or impeding user’s connections to online content. In defense, without the Net Neutrality, Internet Service Providers would be able to strategize new ways to charge users more for access and services, which would hinder online communication. Without Net Neutrality, Internet Service Providers would be allowed to censor content and speech that does not cater to their taste, reject applications that is in competition with their own offerings and prioritize Web traffic. This paper will be written in the defense of net neutrality, in terms of importance for business and communities of color, etc., and our right to free internet access on behalf of all Internet users. There are a number of reasons why net neutrality is important to us. Net neutrality...
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...Iran, Vietnam, Turkey and etc… are putting lots of efforts in order to monitor internet activities and they are using Internet for surveillance. The worse part is they mostly use defending the stability of country as an excuse. Such mechanism as one powerful agency which would have control of internet might be solution for such globally totalitarian governance examples. Of course, it is impossible to please everyone, but still one controlling mechanism would make lots of things easier. Since Internet took place of traditional media sources, newspapers and tv, it can be counted as platform for people to speak freely. However, governments who surveil Internet for their political benefits to keep domestic “stability” limit or even destroy freedom of speech as well. As controlling media channels give governments chance to keep them people under surveillance, they exploit any media sources, newspapers, tv, internet. To sum up; having one controlling mechanism would have advantages for societies about speaking out about their opinions freely. By this way, governments would not exploit Internet for their political benefits. On the other hand, such mechanism would bring some...
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...INTRODUCTION Background Information is power and the spirit of democracy. The right to information is considered as a fundamental human right. Right to Information is also known as the freedom of information or the right to know. In a modern democracy, good governance is essential. Among the chief characteristics of good governance are transparency and accountability, elements that can be best ensured only when information is available abundantly and as speedily as possible. Right to information (RTI) empowers public for questioning government agencies about the process, status and result of different activities thereof. The quest of procedural and financial transparency by applying right to information is quite essential, that helps in paving the way for public to participate indecision-making process and governance system. Right to Information is one of the lately recognized rights, generally information means any material in any form including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, proceedings, decisions. This is one of the importance right held in public agencies. This term also includes the right to study or observe any written documents, materials held in public agencies or proceedings of such public agencies, to obtain a verified copies of such written documents, to visit or observe the places where any construction of public importance is going on and to obtain...
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...Introduction Freedom of thought, conscience and speech is recognized in the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as one of the fundamental rights and right to information is an inalienable part of freedom of thought, conscience and speech; and whereas all powers of the Republic belong to the people, and it is necessary to ensure right to information for the empowerment of the people; and Whereas if the right to information of the people is ensured, the transparency and accountability of all public, autonomous and statutory organizations and of other private institutions constituted or run by government or foreign financing shall increase, corruption of the same shall decrease and good governance of the same shall be established. Right to Information Act In today’s world, freedom of information is the pre-requisite of sustainable development due to its driving power. Free flow of information and its consumption boosts a country’s progress and prosperity. Effectiveness of democracy and security of human rights vastly depends on freedom of expression and information, in other word, freedom of the press. Understanding the essence many countries- from developed to developing- now open the shutters and nod the people’s right to the access of information resources. In recent years, a number of nations enacted the freedom of information law including neighboring India in 2005, Pakistan in 2002, and Nepal in 2007. After the restoration of democracy in 1990,...
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...Executive Summary: Right to information refers to people’s right to have all the necessary information regarding the political, legal and similar areas which is directly correlated to their daily lives. In Bangladesh, though people have very limited or no information at all due to lack of willingness and ability to obtain the necessary information’s. Thus the general people should look forward how this bridge can be closed between themselves and the government officials to obtain the necessary and rightful information. The technology is advancing day by day throughout the world. Thus obtaining information has become much easier and flexible. Not only the general people but it is also the responsibility of those who are the holders of that information. They are also equally responsible for passing those to the general people with full efficiency and accuracy. Sadly due to the negligence of both parties this information flow is reduced compared to the early days since the nation’s independence in 1971. Lots of problem is faced by the nation’s citizens specially the people who belong to the rural areas. Due to unaware of their own right, thousands of people had faced difficulties on both professional and personal context. Our focus is on the factors of this decreased information flow as well as the initiatives to be taken which can reduce this massive problem in our country. Contents: • Introduction • Theoretical Overview • Findings ...
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...Tutor Marker: Vincent Andrisani Policy document Research and Analysis Canada. Access to Information Review Task Force. (2002, June). Access to Information: Making it Work for Canadians. Page 2 Policy document Research and Analysis Canada. Access to Information Review Task Force. Overview: The decision to implement an Access to Information Act (ATIA) in Canada was a process initiated in the early 1970s and only in 1982 was a workable law established in this country. Through many years, the preliminary actions were taken by a few and only after the government officially decided to develop the law, was a real concerted effort expended on the Access To Information Act (ATIA). Heralded as an example to be followed, it has been many years since the law was amended to keep up with the times of the changing face of information access. As a result the Canadian act has languished for many years with a constant whittling away at the right to access culminating with the current outcry that the law must be made more workable. This is a brief search of the actions that have been taken and their results. Historical aspects of Access to Information in Canada: The existing Access to Information Act (ATIA) as passed by the Federal Parliament in 1982, and was enacted in1983 after years of attempts at implementation Page 3 of an information access bill by members of the Canadian Parliament. Spearheaded by the Conservative MP Gerald William...
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...Contribution of RTI Act 2005 in last 8 years of Indian Democracy PRIT DAYAL dayal.priti5@gmail.com Contribution of RTI Act 2005 in last 8 years of Indian Democracy In today’s era of power of knowledge, acquisition of knowledge, new information and its application hold the key of intense impact on overall productivity gains. Almost every society has made endeavors for democratizing knowledge resources by way of putting in place the mechanisms for free flow of information and ideas so that people can access them without asking for it. People are thus empowered to make proper choices for participation in development process. Every individual or section of society requires wide range of information to be able to effectively function in the knowledge and technology driven economy. Until 2005, an ordinary citizen has no access to information held by public authority. Under the Official Secret Act, 1923, the entire development process has thus been shrouded in secrecy. It was not easy to seek information which affected the citizens, and in lack of such knowledge it was not possible for a common man to participate in meaningful debate on political and economic options available to him. The freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed under the constitution of India. Even then the citizens had no legal right to know about the details of public policies which disables them to scrutinize and rectify the deficiencies in policy planning and the execution program. Thus the...
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...The Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI) is an Act of the Parliament of India "to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens." The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has its own act called Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009. Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen may request information from a "public authority" (a body of Government or "instrumentality of State") which is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days. The Act also requires every public authority to computerize their records for wide dissemination and to pro-actively publish certain categories of information so that the citizens need minimum recourse to request for information formally. This law was passed by Parliament on 15 June 2005 and came fully into force on 13 October 2005.[1] Information disclosure in India was hitherto restricted by the Official Secrets Act and various other special laws, which the new RTI Act now relaxes. The formal recognition of a legal right to information in India occurred more than two decades before legislation was finally enacted, when the Supreme Court of India ruled in State of U.P. v. Raj Narain that the right to information is implicit in the right to freedom of speech and expression explicitly guaranteed in Article 19 of the Indian Constitution.[2]) (source Wikipedia) Well, this is what Wikipedia has to summarize about RTI and...
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...TRANPARENCY IN GOVERNANCE IS THE ULTIMATE KEY TO REFORMS INTRODUCTION India is a developing country. There have been innumerable barriers addressed so far which require the expansion of reforms in India. The barriers are corruption, illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, culture, religion, caste, etc. In such diverse environments, it is vital to have an effective and tolerant government and sustain development. Indians are well aware of good governance but are curtailed by these innumerable barriers. The closed approach caused by these barriers is the root cause for corruption in the country. India ranks very low in the Transparency index and is known for high levels of corruption. BARRIERS Slowdown in the growth of GDP , a virtual stagnation in industrial production, and the risk of loosing the investments grade rating by international rating agencies like Standard and Poor’s has rattled the government and industry. The policy makers are favoring the introduction of FDI in service sectors like retail, insurance as a means to reverse the slowdown in the economy. But sustained growth is possible only if there is a healthy manufacturing sector. In the last years India has hardly invested in the physical infrastructure which has hampered the development of manufacturing sector increasing the costs of transportation. India’s overdependence on the service sector and slow growth in manufacturing has been the reason for deceleration in the pace of economy. The presence of corruption...
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...for Information Your address [Insert date] The Central / State Public Information Officer Name of the relevant public authority Address (You can submit this request to the Manager(Customer care centre) of a designated post-office-in respect of Central Government departments having no offices in your place of stay.)* Request under the Right to Information Act Dear Public Information Officer : Under the Right to Information Act 2005,Section 6, please provide me the following information (here, clearly describe the information you require and the period to which it relates.). I prefer to receive the information in the form:(Xerox copy / printout / diskette / floppy / tape / video cassette / certified copies of documents or records/certified samples of material/ I would like to take notes or extracts) by post/ email/in person. OR I would like to inspect the following works/documents/records.(clearly describe what you want to inspect ) . Please inform me a suitable date and time for my visit. Initial request fee under s6(1): Rs.______paid in cash/cheque/banker’s draft/Indian Postal Order/treasury challan ( give details ). OR I am a person below poverty line. (attach a photocopy of the proof ).I need not pay fees. (optional) I am sensorily disabled. Kindly provide me appropriate assistance to enable access to the information ( reading...
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...for Information Your address [Insert date] The Central / State Public Information Officer Name of the relevant public authority Address (You can submit this request to the Manager(Customer care centre) of a designated post-office-in respect of Central Government departments having no offices in your place of stay.)* Request under the Right to Information Act Dear Public Information Officer : Under the Right to Information Act 2005,Section 6, please provide me the following information (here, clearly describe the information you require and the period to which it relates.). I prefer to receive the information in the form:(Xerox copy / printout / diskette / floppy / tape / video cassette / certified copies of documents or records/certified samples of material/ I would like to take notes or extracts) by post/ email/in person. OR I would like to inspect the following works/documents/records.(clearly describe what you want to inspect ) . Please inform me a suitable date and time for my visit. Initial request fee under s6(1): Rs.______paid in cash/cheque/banker’s draft/Indian Postal Order/treasury challan ( give details ). OR I am a person below poverty line. (attach a photocopy of the proof ).I need not pay fees. (optional) I am sensorily disabled. Kindly provide me appropriate assistance to enable access to the information ( reading...
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...Why there’s a need to pass into law the Freedom of Information Bill? For me, the Freedom of Information Bill should be pass into law, because this bill is the most significant and very important law to our country, because it promotes good governance, accountability and to have transparency so we can prevent corruption and also every citizen has a legal right of access to information, records and documents held by the government and other public functions and authorities. But what are the purposes and the true essence of transparency and accountability in good governance of Freedom of Information Bill? They are just like a twin pillars of the good governance, we will put the transparency and accountability as a strategies to fight against corruption, to achieve and to surpass public financial management. These are the steps to generate confidence in government and regaining the people’s trust in it. These essentials will also encourage domestic and foreign investment to our economy. If the Freedom of Information Bill is enacted, there would be a transparency and accountability on government transactions and expenditures of public funds in short the government will be an open book. Everything will be expose, even the corrupt being done by some politicians will be exposed too. Just like the taxes we paid that we worked hard but we don’t know where it goes, where they spent these collected money? Maybe, they are the benefits and spend...
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