Views from Iraq: What Does Internet Freedom Mean to You?

Building on the momentum from the first day of IREX and IWPR's “Emerging Technologies, Emerging Democracies” conference in Erbil, Dr. Dr Adil Matloob, Advisor to Minister of Science and Technology, announced the details of Iraq's groundbreaking e-governance plan, saying that Iraq needs to address critical areas "to bring to light the transformational impact of information, communication and technology tools."

Other presenters focused on the role of citizen media in governance, from Twitter to open-source e-government tools. “Citizen led e-governance initiatives can create a safety net for [Iraqi] citizens," explained Noel Hidalgo of Digital Democracy. Mark Belinsky, the co-founder of Digital Democracy announced to the conference attendees that Iraq was recently assigned a Twitter “short code” (71117) enabling Iraqis to send SMS “tweets” from to their Twitter accounts. Short codes have been developed in other nations around the world, most notably in Haiti after a devastating earthquake destroyed Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.

The announcement of a national e-governance plan coupled with aggressive private sector and civil society e-governance initiatives could help stimulate demand side pressure on the Iraqi government to establish the legal infrastructure for internet freedom. The question arising out of the conference now is how will Iraqis embrace this new technology so they can be an example to the Arab world in developing an open internet and using technology for transparent and inclusive governance? While the conference discussed issues, tools and concepts, now it is up to the Iraqi government and civil society to find their own answers.

More information and resources developed during the conference will be posted at www.iraqemedia.net

Emerging Technologies/Emerging Democracies: Information Technology, Economic Growth and Governance in Iraq

More than 150 journalists and civil society leaders gathered in Erbil, Iraq for a ground-breaking two-day media conference, entitled “Emerging Technologies, Emerging Democracies,” held by IREX and the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR). The conference's first day featured panel discussions and training sessions on information access, new media and online advocacy as well as emerging Internet laws and libel.

Bob Pearson, President of IREX, opened the conference by noting that "no one now has a monopoly over information and moreover this information can travel across the world and be accessed by millions of people at the speed of light and at the same time."

Internationally renowned BBC journalist Nik Gowing provided the keynote address referencing his recent book, Skyful of Lies and Black Swans. Gowing asked the participants and the Iraqi government “to consider the new power of technology, which is creating a new fragility of power” not just in Iraq but in countries throughout the world.

Technology, he argued, is creating new pressures of accountability for government as well as media and civil society in what he termed a “deficit of legitimacy.” He warned that if governments fail to embrace this new technology they do so at the risk of their very survival.

An estimated four billion mobile devices are now in circulation around the world which has enabled anyone to become an active participant in the dissemination of information. Botan Osman, Head of KRG Department of IT, Council of Ministers, Kurdistan Regional Government said in his speech that “the significance of ICT is no longer valid for debate. There is solid proof around the world that those who embrace it, progress and those who don’t, get left behind.”

IREX and IWPR partnered to create the website www.iraqemedia.net to be a portal for discussion, information sharing, and a depository of resources to tackle the difficult issues facing the country.
The conference which runs through September 28, will culminate in the announcement a national plan for E-Governance in Iraq by Dr. Adil Matloob, Advisor to Minister of Science and Technology.

Hiwa Osman, IWPR's Media Advisor concluded that “today, Iraq is well placed to manage this transition by handling it wisely. And it is the duty of the government, the media and the public to see this transition through and develop Iraq’s own digital democracy,” said. Osman went on to recommend that Iraq should “provide internet for everybody similar to water and electricity.”

Considering Iraq's current state of public services this may be an ambitious goal, but it is clear it is a goal Iraqi are willing to undertake in order to help regain their role as a leader in the region.