Ranking Digital Rights: DC Launch

We rely on dozens of companies – such as Facebook, Google and AT&T – for the products and services that power our digital lives. But how committed are these companies to respecting our digital rights like privacy and freedom of expression? In early November, New America's Ranking Digital Rights project will launch its inaugural Corporate Accountability Index with a ranking of 16 of the world’s most powerful Internet and telecommunications companies on their commitments and disclosed practices affecting users’ freedom of expression and privacy. 

Which companies are doing better than others? What concrete steps can companies take to improve? Come hear director Rebecca MacKinnon explain the most important and surprising findings from the Index.

Michael Samway will then lead a discussion about how consumers, activists, investors, and companies themselves can work to ensure that as businesses power and shape our Internet, they do a better job of respecting our rights while also fulfilling legitimate public safety and other obligations under the law.

The DC event follows the global launch of the Index on November 3 in NYC. Full results will be available at rankingdigitalrights.org.

Join us for a reception directly following the discussion.

Participants: 

Rebecca MacKinnon
Director, Ranking Digital Rights, @NewAmerica 
@rmack  

Priya Kumar 
Research Analyst, Ranking Digital Rights @rankingrights
@DearPriya  

Michael Samway 
Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University
Former Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Yahoo! 
@MichaelSamway