2011 - Internet rights and democratisation

The 2011 Global Information Society Watch report investigates how governments and internet and mobile phone companies are trying to restrict freedom online - and how citizens are responding to this using the very same technologies.

Everyone is familiar with the stories of Egypt and Tunisia. GISWatch authors tell these and other lesser-known stories from over fifty countries including:

GISWatcher reports from "the free Tunisia"

For those who don't know Tunisia : Tunisia is a small country but a great nation. First Arab country that abolished slavery in 1848. First Arab country to establish a constitution in 1861. First Arab country to abolish polygamy in 1956. First Arab country to legalize abortion in 1973. Tunisia is the first Arab country to kick out its dictator and this without the help of any foreign nation!

Information and democracy: Accessing the law

Authored by

Organization

Harvard Law School

Not so long ago, to gain access to information about the law, one had to go to a specialised law library, to a courthouse, or to a legislature. In many parts of Europe and the United States (US), today, the primary law is published online. If you want to know about legislation recently passed in the US Congress, the answer is a Google search away. The same is true of a new opinion handed down from the Supreme Court. Publication tends to be prompt; access is nearly instantaneous and free.