Assessment of Current Censorship Trends:
Conduct a thorough analysis of the current practices of online censorship and content regulation across various platforms, regions, and stakeholders. This objective aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the scale and scope of the issue, which will inform the development of effective solutions and policies to address the problem.
Identify Threats to Freedom of Expression:
Identify and categorize the specific threats to freedom of expression arising from online censorship, including governmental censorship, platform content moderation policies, and non-state actors’ influence.
Legal and Ethical Framework Review:
Examine the existing legal and ethical frameworks governing online expression and content moderation. Evaluate the effectiveness of these frameworks in safeguarding freedom of expression in the digital age.
Stakeholder Engagement:
Engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, tech companies, content creators, and legal experts, to gather insights and perspectives on the challenges and potential solutions.
Develop Best Practice Guidelines:
Collaborate with tech companies and industry experts to establish best practice guidelines for content moderation that balance the need to protect freedom of expression with the necessity of combating harmful content.
Policy Advocacy:
Advocate for policies and regulations that balance the protection of freedom of expression with addressing valid concerns related to online content, privacy, and security. This involves proposing new amendments or legislation, where necessary, to create a conducive environment for the safe and responsible use of digital platforms.
Public Awareness and Education:
Launch a public awareness campaign to educate citizens on responsible online engagement, censorship risks, and freedom of expression in the digital age.
Capacity Building:
Provide training and resources to journalists, content creators, and online users to help them understand their rights and responsibilities in the digital space and to navigate the challenges posed by online censorship.
Monitoring and Reporting:
Establish a system for ongoing monitoring of online censorship incidents and the impact on freedom of expression. Produce regular reports to document trends and cases, thereby raising awareness and accountability.
Legal Support for Affected Individuals:
Establish a legal support network to assist individuals or groups who face censorship-related challenges, including wrongful takedowns of content, threats, or legal action related to their online expression.
International Collaboration:
Collaborate with international organizations, governments, and NGOs to share best practices and coordinate efforts to protect freedom of expression globally.
Impact Assessment:
Conduct regular assessments to measure the project’s impact on reducing online censorship and promoting freedom of expression, including tracking changes in policies and practices over time.
Research and Innovation:
Invest in research and innovation to develop tools and technologies that can assist in content moderation while respecting freedom of expression, such as AI-powered content analysis tools.
Long-Term Sustainability:
Develop a sustainability plan to ensure the continued existence and effectiveness of the project
