Post on 09-May-2015
description
Digital Democracy
D 2
Working with local partners to connect people
through new technologies that encourage
education, communication and participation.
1Monday, January 26, 2009
Test Case:Burma
Population: 60 million
Those in Exile: 4 million
Less than 1% mobile phone market penetration
from USD0.75 in 2004 and USD0.95–1.50 in
2003),8 which are said to be present in five cities
but planned to reach 324 townships within three
years.9 Connection speeds are slow, however, as
broadband is available primarily to government
and businesses and used mostly for Internet
telephony via Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP),
though the government pledged to bring ADSL to
every township by the end of 2006.10 There are
only two Internet service providers (ISPs) allowed
in Myanmar: state-owned telecom Myanmar
Posts and Telecom (MPT), which is the only
source of new Internet services,11 and Myanmar
Teleport (MMT, formerly Bagan Cybertech), which
is reportedly the infrastructure arm of Myanmar’s
Internet system and responsible for blocking
content. In September 2005 the Ahaed Co.
of Myanmar and the Canadian ICT company
Teleglobe reportedly signed a memorandum
of understanding to establish a private ISP.12
Reliability is also an issue: in May 2006 the entire
country was disconnected for four days because
of alleged damage to an undersea cable.13
Legal and regulatory frameworks
Myanmar heavily regulates online access and
content via legal, regulatory, and economic con-
straints. As in other areas, however, the state’s
policies are difficult to assess because they are
rarely published or explained.
Network-ready computers must be regis-
tered (for a fee) with the MPT; failure to do so
can result in fines and prison sentences of seven
to fifteen years.14 Sharing registered Internet
connections is also punishable by revocation of
access and presumably similar “legal action.”15
Broad laws and regulations confer power upon
the SPDC, which is also involved in all judicial
appointments,16 to punish citizens harshly for any
activity deemed detrimental to national interests
or security. Regulations issued in 2000 subjected
online content to the same kind of strict filtering
that the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division
carries out (despite print media being almost
exclusively state owned):17 users must obtain
MPT permission before creating Web pages, and
they cannot post anything “detrimental” to the
government or simply related to politics. The MPT
can “amend and change regulations on the use
of the Internet without prior notice.”18
Costs indeed limit access significantly: even
households that can afford a PC and long-
distance connection fees outside the capital
Yangon (Rangoon) and Mandalay cannot pay
KEY INDICATORS
worst best
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2000 international $) ........ 1,446 3.50
Life expectancy at birth (years) ............................................. 61 4.19
Literacy rate (% of people age 15+) ..................................... 90 6.00
Human development index (out of 177) ............................... 130 3.52
Rule of law (out of 208) ...................................................... 202 1.87
Voice and accountability (out of 208) .................................. 208 0.69
Digital opportunity index (out of 180) .................................. 176 1.36
Internet users (% of population) ........................................... 0.1 3.07
Source (by indicator): IMF 2006; World Bank 2006a, 2006a; UNDP 2006; World Bank 2006c, 2006c; ITU 2006, 2004
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
OpenNet Initiative, Internet Filtering in Burma in 2005: A Country Study, at http://opennet.net/studies/burma/.
KHRG
D 22Monday, January 26, 2009
Our Research
Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border
Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border
Overcoming Obstacles,
Creating Opportunities
www.newwordsmedia.com
D 23Monday, January 26, 2009
Key findingYoung Burmese with access to the internet were more likely to identify themselves as activists
www.newwordsmedia.com
D 24Monday, January 26, 2009
Burma and its BordersIn Burma the cost of a “normal” GSM sim card is 2.5 million kyat.
This equals approximately $2000 on the black market conversion rate.
At the official rate this is approximately $393,400.
A new pre-paid sim costs between $20-$50 US dollars.
Use restricted to 1 month
Bangladesh
India (Delhi)
Thailand
China (Yunnan)
Burma
Dollars Local Currency
4.18 250
7.77 300
6.84 200
14.6 100
50 D 25Monday, January 26, 2009
Bangladesh: Mobile possibilities
- Large populations in refugee camps - stateless population- Extensive mobile penetration along border allows for reporting and monitoring
www.newwordsmedia.com
D 26Monday, January 26, 2009
India: Challenges and opportunities
- Relative freedom of expression- Tech support in Delhi- Isolation along border
www.newwordsmedia.com
D 27Monday, January 26, 2009
China: Land of the Free?
- Borders Kachin and Shan States in Burma- Ruili: largest Chinese city on border- Contact with outside world via China and Chinese technology- Relatively more internet freedom
“I think, to me, the China web is totally free.”
- Burmese male activist, 26
D 28Monday, January 26, 2009
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES CREATING OPPORTUNITIESOVERCOMING OBSTACLES CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
168168
Thailand: Increased Opportunities
In Thailand, internet access is frequent. There, we found a correlation between access to internet and self-identification as an activist
Since then, internet access has grown, including affordable and reliable GPRS on mobiles
D 29Monday, January 26, 2009
Solutions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/
1. Education 2. Inter-ethnic dialogue 3. Communication technology
“I came to study here, I can use computer, I can use email, and I also learn something from internet, I also know more experience.” – Male Student, age 23
D 210Monday, January 26, 2009
Virtual Community Center
Similar to traditional community centers, VCC is a place for community groups to come together.
D 211Monday, January 26, 2009
Virtual Community Center
D 2
Community Group
Citizen Citizen Citizen
Community Group
Community groups can:
Have an easy web presence
Learn about each others work
Easily partner
Receive support
Host discussions
Overcome distance
Overcome different languages
Secure Sharing:
Messages
Data
Pictures
Videos
Open Source
Phone Computer Computer
12Monday, January 26, 2009
Virtual Community Center - Mobile
A network for map-based micro-blogging, which will be used by individuals and organizations along Burma's borders.
Handheld Human Rights: Engage human rights groups to communicate with one another and incorporate their data into the VCC.
Crowdsourcing the Constitution: Conduct film interviews with political leaders and engage citizens to respond to and debate key issues through the VCC.
www.newwordsmedia.com
D 213Monday, January 26, 2009
Virtual Community Center - Mobile
http://www.developmentseed.org/D 2
14Monday, January 26, 2009
Project Einstein
Digital Pen Pals - Photography-based participatory education program linking American students with refugee youth overseas.
“Because Einstein was a refugee but could still do great things”
D 215Monday, January 26, 2009
Project Einstein: Digital Pen PalsPeace
Culture
Happiness
History
Let’s Discuss:
USA Ideas
Pictures
Lessons
Culture
Let’s Exchange:
Photo Books
Slideshows
VideosLet’s Create:
Resettled Refugees with American youth in US schools
Youth in refugee camps
D 2
Bangladesh
16Monday, January 26, 2009
Cultural LandscapeAn interactive map where people can describe the past, present and future of their communities
http://www.developmentseed.org/
•Po Po•Shan•30 years old•This is me as a
girl in Myanmar during 2004. I sold masks to survive.
www.newwordsmedia.com
D 217Monday, January 26, 2009
Problem Solution
Regional instability
World’s longest running civil war
Rampant use of child soldiers
Over 3.5 million internally displaced persons and refugees
Severe censorship
Cross-border communication
Networking among traditionally divided groups
Providing 21st century education
Connecting refugees with their resettled communities
Freedom of information
D 218Monday, January 26, 2009
D 2
Mark Belinsky - MBelinsky@dtwo.org - +1-347-439-8431
Emily Jacobi - EJacobi@dtwo.org - +1-347-328-3110
DTWO.ORG
Digital DemocracyWorking with local partners to connect people
through new technologies that encourage
education, communication and participation.
19Monday, January 26, 2009
“Concepts such as truth, justice and compassion cannot be dismissed as trite
when these are often the only bulwarks which stand against ruthless power.”
-Aung San Suu Kyi Nobel Peace Prize 1991
20Monday, January 26, 2009