Freedom of Expression as Economic Growth

Once again, I can't possibly cover all the content from today's sessions. Panelists and delegates alike were taking advantage of Article 19 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights in which:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Much was said and Google, as the unofficial ambassador of the private sector, was once again the target of criticism from freedom of expression [FOE] groups. Another angle worthy of a brief mention was offered by Robert Faris, of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University and an economist by training. He is a research fellow and director of the OpenNet Initiative [cool website warning], which tracks and monitors Internet surveillance and censorship around the world. Their most recent report suggests that censorship is steadily increasing and that many countries if not most, are considering some form of filtering. Or, as Dr. Faris The economist described "a market increase in content restrictions."

Dr. Faris notes that filtering is inherently a blunt tool from the technological standpoint. In the human factors context, filtering leads to delegation which leads to discretion. In turn, the exercise of discretion (especially without transparency or accountability) is necessarily problematic.

Dr. Faris follows FOE particularly with respect to economic growth and suggests that ++ FOE --> ++ Political AND ++ Innovation. I would do a graph if Blogger had such function. I shall stop there before I totally misinterpret his position.

BUT, I wonder. The US is certainly a big fan of FOE. Just take a look at their 1st Amendment jurisprudence. It is their First amendment after all whereas its only the 19th Article on the UN Declaration.

Still, not all countries care are such big fans and this is by no means unique to the Online context. During yesterday's FOE Dynamic Coalition, one delegate suggested that the word "Online" be removed from the title of "FOE Online." But then we open a dispute that has been waging since long before I was born.

So what kind of progress can we actually make when domestic governments will inevitably filter? [that's what I call a tease...].