Updated: Beyond Control? Colloquium, Oxford Union 28th April

Yaman Akdeniz lawya at lucs-01.novell.leeds.ac.uk
Mon, 13 Mar 2000 13:09:31 -0000


The programme of this event has been updated and I am posting this 
for your information. Book in advance as there are limited places.

Yaman

Beyond Control or Through the Looking Glass? Threats and Liberties in 
the Electronic Age

http://www.hcu.ox.ac.uk/beyond/ [INCLUDES ON-LINE BOOKING FORM]

Friday 28 April 2000

The Oxford Union Debating Chamber

Organised by: Humanities Computing Unit, University of Oxford

Sponsored by: Guardian Unlimited

**** NEWS ****

We are pleased to announce that this event is now being sponsored by 
Guardian Unlimited, the internet network from the Guardian and 
Observer (http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/). Simon Waldman, Head 
of Guardian Unlimited, will be chairing the afternoon debate. In 
addition, two more speakers have now been added to the programme:  

Avedon Carol, a founder member of Feminists
Against Censorship, and author of 'Nudes, Prudes and
Attitudes: Pornography and Censorship'; 

and 

Peter Sommer, Senior Research Fellow, Computer Security Research
Centre, London School of Economics; Special Advisor to the Commons 
Trade &
Industry Select Committee on E-Crime.

***** FULL INFORMATION BELOW ********

Beyond Control or Through the Looking Glass? Threats and Liberties in 
the Electronic Age  

http://www.hcu.ox.ac.uk/beyond/

Friday 28 April 2000

The Oxford Union Debating Chamber

Organised by: Humanities Computing Unit, University of Oxford

Sponsored by: Guardian Unlimited 
(http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/)

<META>Access, Culture, Museums, Libraries, Internet, Censorship, 
Policing, Control, Civil Liberties</META>  

Overview -------- We are constantly being told that the new 
technologies, and particularly the Internet will bring unparalleled 
benefits to society by increasing access to all manner of resources, 
educational, cultural, and entertainment. Yet at the same time we 
read of Internet scare stories about the availability of pornography, 
racist material, and information inciting violence. How can we square 
this circle? Is the Internet 'Beyond Control', or are we 'Through the 
Looking Glass' into a wonderland of strange and new adventures.  

Set in the historical Debating Chamber of the Oxford Union, 
distinguished speakers will present their views and debate the future 
shape of our culture's landscape. The format of Beyond Control will 
be a mixture of presentations, open discussion, and debates. We will 
aim to stimulate discussion between the speakers and encourage the 
audience to participate fully.  

The list of invited speakers is growing all the time, and at the
moment we are pleased to announce the following.


Morning Session: Accessing Cultural Networks

Speakers will *include*:

* Prof Bruce Royan, Chief Executive, Scottish Cultural Resources 
Access Network - 'Surfing the heritage: the internet and wider access 
to cultural resources'  

* Dr Suzanne Keene, Head of Collections Management, Science Museum - 
'Museums: does the virtual benefit the actual?'  

* Chris Batt, Chief Network Adviser, Library and Information 
Commission - 'The People's Network: The Final Frontier'  

Followed by an open debate on the motion:

'This House believes that this House is doomed'

-----

* Peter Sommer, Senior Research Fellow, Computer Security Research 
Centre, London School of Economics - 'Is Internet Crime that New?'  

* Avedon Carol, a founder member of Feminists Against Censorship - 
'Porn & the Net: An explosion of fantasy, a new danger, or just more 
of the same old same old?'  

***** LUNCH (Not Provided) *****

Afternoon Session: Policing the Internet (co-organised with Cyber-
Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK) - http://www.cyber-rights.org)  

'This house believes that any attempt by Government to police the 
Internet is both unworkable and a severe threat to civil liberties'  

An in-depth debate on Government policies on policing the internet - 
how essential are these? Can they work? How much of a threat do they 
pose to civil liberties? The debate will be led by two speakers for, 
and two speakers against a motion presented to the house, followed by 
open discussion and a vote. This session will be chaired by Simon 
Waldman, Head of Guardian Unlimited. The invited presenters are:  

* Prof Nadine Strossen, New York Law School, & President of the 
American Civil Liberties Union * Mr Yaman Akdeniz, Director of Cyber-
Rights & Cyber Liberties (UK)  

                ----- vs -----

* Mr John Abbott, Director General of the National Criminal 
Intelligence Service * Mr David Kerr, CEO, Internet Watch Foundation  


Who Should Come to 'Beyond Control'? 
------------------------------------ 
Anyone interested in the potential benefits and problems the Internet 
poses for increasing access to resources, be they cultural, or 
ephemeral. The colloquium will be of interest to:  

* museums * libraries * academics * publishers * students * IT and 
Information specialists * the general public * civil liberty experts 
* criminologists * Internet providers * and so on ...  


Venue: The Debating Chamber of the Oxford Union 
----------------------------------------------- 
The Oxford Union is the world's most famous debating society.  
Established in 1823 and located in glorious Victorian Buildings in 
the heart of Oxford University, it aims to promote debate and 
discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe (for 
more information see http://www.oxford-union.org/).  

Background
----------
For the last five years the Humanities Computing Unit has organised a
series of successful events which have discussed the place of 
technology in the spheres of literature, learning, and our cultural 
resources. In,1999 we brought together a number of illustrious 
speakers in the Oxford Union to look 'Beyond Art' which discussed how 
technology asserts itself on the creative arts (selected papers can 
be found at: http://info.ox.ac.uk/ctitext/beyond/).

More information about the Humanities Computing Unit is available 
from http://www.hcu.ox.ac.uk


Price
-----
Costs per place are as follows:

         40.00 - educational/non-profit
        100.00 - commercial
          5.00 - student/unwaged

Please note that lunch is not included in the price. Please book 
early as spaces are limited. Concessions for block bookings of five 
or more (though not at the student rate) are available;  please 
contact the organisers below for more details. A small number of 
reduced price places will be available for members of the Oxford 
Union and Oxford University. Cheques should be made payable to 
'Oxford University Computing Services' and sent to the organisers 
below.  

To register for this event please complete the tear-off slip below 
and return it by 14th April 2000 to:  

Jenny Newman
Humanities Computing Unit
OUCS, 13 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 6NN.

Tel. +44 (0)1865 273221
Fax. +44 (0)1865 273275

Email: jenny.newman@oucs.ox.ac.uk

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR A PLACE ON THE HUMANITIES COMPUTING UNIT'S
'BEYOND CONTROL'  ONE-DAY COLLOQUIUM ON APRIL 28th 2000

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I ENCLOSE A CHEQUE FOR 40.00 (pounds sterling) [Educational 
Rate]/100.00 [Commercial Rate]/5.00 [Student/Unwaged rate] MADE 
PAYABLE TO 'OXFORD UNIVERSITY COMPUTING SERVICES'.  

SIGNED:

DATE:












































Mr. Yaman Akdeniz,
Director, Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK)
Url: http://www.cyber-rights.org
E-mail: lawya@cyber-rights.org
Tel: +44 (0) 498 865116
PGP Fingerprint:
075A 1640 8F7A 0273 6C24  B9C3 551F A9F1 0397 F663