This Decree, which will come into force on next 1st of July, stipulates that all governmental institutions should place information on their activities only on official web-sites. Not only that, but, according to the decree, all information which is disseminated through “Belarusian Internet” must have hyperlinks to the source. State registration is introduced for all Internet providers in Belarus. The official procedure for registration will be announced in due time. “In order to provide security for the citizens of the country, Internet service providers are obliged to identify users Internet access devices, keep track of such devices and Internet services rendered”, – Belarusian president’s press-service states.

• Belarus on Wikipedia
• Belarusian government increases its control over the Internet (e-Belarus.org)

In this context of increasing number of examples of threats to free access to the Internet, the speech of U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is a good reminder of the importance of preserving this new right of peoples to free access to the information through ICT.

This speech summed up perfectly the vision of democracies facing the expansion of information networks that are now “a new nervous system for our planet.” “Viral videos and blog posts are becoming the samizdat of our day”, she said, referring to the small pamphlets which circulated during the communist period in East Europe. Most important, she highlighted a new freedom, “Freedom to connect” that must be considered as “equivalent to freedom of assembly”, convinced that “online organizing is a critical tool for advancing democracy”.

• Remarks on Internet freedom, by Hillary Clinton

It is very interesting to read what can imagine the swedish agency: from the idea that “Government goes private” because a private actor emerges with efficiency to the idea of co-production with a strong participation in communities from Government, it is a new style of Government which emerge.

Can we imagine something like a new service “Google Government” in the future?
Or an emerging “Big Brother society” where people felt that, on balance, improved services outweighed the risk to personal integrity?

• To download the full report

If, today, the e-participation.it website identifies e-Democracy initiatives in Italy, the aim is to open this database to all European experiences.

To see the video

Mark Rakar is a passionate man. During the visit of the French National Assembly, proposed to the participants of the last World eDemocracy Forum, he enjoyed every moment and every picture. Curious by nature, quoting the American strategist Joe Trippi and convinced that an electoral campaign is “too serious matter to be left to political parties”, it was not a surprise that he is one of Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics. During the eDemocracy Awards workshop, last october, he explained how Pollitika.com strengthened democracy in Croatie.

• Pollitika.com
• Watch Marko Rakar in the eDemocracy Awards Workshop

At the e-Democracy awards workshop, professors Alexander Trechsel and Fabian Breuer explained their motivations.

A presentation to see in video: [To watch the video]

According PoliticsOnline, Peter Greenberger and his team have played a key role in enhancing transparency and democracy in the United States, which significantly change the worldview of politics among citizens.

A presentation to see in video: [To watch the video]

A distinction awarded by Politech Institute and IP label for the variety of web 2.0 tools used and of the content of a website whose aim is to increase citizen participation in the European debate.

A presentation to see in video: [To watch the video]

It is why our special guests are finalists of the e-Democracy Awards, selected by our partners (PoliticsOnline in US, Politech Institute in Europe, Blog Territorial in France). They are coming from USA, Egypt, Bolivia, Italy, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany or UK and each of them has a project, an idea, an application that transforms politics in their countries and beyond. We are very excited to learn more and more about new practices.

The World eDemocracy Forum is participating in the “Pep-Net Conference Series”, an initiative started by Pep-Net members, who are organizing conferences throughout the years 2009 and 2010. As a special programme there will be additional workshops lead by Pep-Net members and invited speakers. After Vienna (September) and Berlin (October) and before London (November), Issy (Paris) will be the next stop for PEP-Net members (October 22-23).

We organize a special visit in the French National Assembly.  A meeting with the chairman of the IT group in the National Assembly is specially organized for PEP-Net members on the following question: “Is it possible to transfer Obama’s net-campaign to Europe?”. It is a reference of the interesting note published by Hans Hagedorn last August.

- The World eDemocracy Forum Program
- Registration (Special rate for PEP-Net members)

Please note that Paris is a very attractive destination for tourism. It is sometime difficult to book a room close to the conference. Don’t wait for book your room in our partner: “Hotel Ocenia“.

I hope to meet you in Paris !