Name: We can fight terror without sacrificing our rights
Uploaded: 2016-09-23T14:17:47Z
Duration: 11 min 47 s
Description: Can we fight terror without destroying democracy? Internet freedom activist Rebecca MacKinnon thinks that we'll lose the battle against extremism and demagoguery if we censor the internet and press. In this critical talk, she calls for a doubling-down on strong encryption and appeals to governments to better protect, not silence, the journalists and activists fighting against extremists.

Rebecca MacKinnon: We can fight terror without sacrificing our rights

We can fight terror without sacrificing our rights

Can we fight terror without destroying democracy? Internet freedom activist Rebecca MacKinnon thinks that we'll lose the battle against extremism and demagoguery if we censor the internet and press. In this critical talk, she calls for a doubling-down on strong encryption and appeals to governments to better protect, not silence, the journalists and activists fighting against extremists.

Protecting human rights, press freedom, and a free internet is crucial in resisting terrorism without sacrificing democracy. As governments ramp up censorship and anti-terror laws, they often silence the very activists and journalists who expose extremism and offer solutions. In Tunisia and beyond, civil society faces threats both from extremists and repressive policies. When critical voices are muted, extremist ideologies thrive and global freedom declines.