Lilian Ezejelue
With the advent of internet and technology came the need to protect people’s rights and to promote the correct use of technology so as to guard against using it negatively. It is to this regard that a number of conferences and forums are being organised worldwide – to ensure the protection of human rights. Rightcon is one of such conferences with this aim.
Rightscon, which is an annual conference that focuses on human rights and technology kicked off today March 30th 2016 and will continue till the 1st of April 2016. The Rightscon 2016, organized by digital rights group, Access Now, is to focus on gender and human rights in journalism.
Up to 1,600 delegates from over 60 countries will make up the human rights experts, government representatives, technologists, advocates and investors who will be part of this global conversation taking place in San Francisco.
Among the speakers for this year is Edward Snowden, the whistle blower and former CIA and NSA staff. He is known to be a firm believer in Internet freedom and the protection of privacy. According to Wikipedia, in accounts published in June 2013, it was noted that Snowden’s laptop displayed stickers supporting internet freedom organizations. He has also shown to be a supporter of women’s rights. This is evident in a statement he made in 204 that “women have the right to make their own choices.”
The aim of Rightscon 2016 reflects the values Snowden believes in and it is no surprise that he is one of the speakers at this event.
Brad Smith, the President and Chief Legal Officer of Microsoft, Nicole Wong, the former Legal Director for Products at Twitter, The Honorable Ron Wyden of the United States Senate and a great number of other people make up the speakers who will steer the conversation on internet freedom and rights.
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