D2 Overview

Digital Democracy

D 2

Working with local partners to connect people

through new technologies that encourage

education, communication and participation.

1Monday, January 26, 2009

Test Case:Burma

Population: 60 million

Those in Exile: 4 million

Less than 1% mobile phone market penetration

from USD0.75 in 2004 and USD0.95–1.50 in

2003),8 which are said to be present in five cities

but planned to reach 324 townships within three

years.9 Connection speeds are slow, however, as

broadband is available primarily to government

and businesses and used mostly for Internet

telephony via Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP),

though the government pledged to bring ADSL to

every township by the end of 2006.10 There are

only two Internet service providers (ISPs) allowed

in Myanmar: state-owned telecom Myanmar

Posts and Telecom (MPT), which is the only

source of new Internet services,11 and Myanmar

Teleport (MMT, formerly Bagan Cybertech), which

is reportedly the infrastructure arm of Myanmar’s

Internet system and responsible for blocking

content. In September 2005 the Ahaed Co.

of Myanmar and the Canadian ICT company

Teleglobe reportedly signed a memorandum

of understanding to establish a private ISP.12

Reliability is also an issue: in May 2006 the entire

country was disconnected for four days because

of alleged damage to an undersea cable.13

Legal and regulatory frameworks

Myanmar heavily regulates online access and

content via legal, regulatory, and economic con-

straints. As in other areas, however, the state’s

policies are difficult to assess because they are

rarely published or explained.

Network-ready computers must be regis-

tered (for a fee) with the MPT; failure to do so

can result in fines and prison sentences of seven

to fifteen years.14 Sharing registered Internet

connections is also punishable by revocation of

access and presumably similar “legal action.”15

Broad laws and regulations confer power upon

the SPDC, which is also involved in all judicial

appointments,16 to punish citizens harshly for any

activity deemed detrimental to national interests

or security. Regulations issued in 2000 subjected

online content to the same kind of strict filtering

that the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division

carries out (despite print media being almost

exclusively state owned):17 users must obtain

MPT permission before creating Web pages, and

they cannot post anything “detrimental” to the

government or simply related to politics. The MPT

can “amend and change regulations on the use

of the Internet without prior notice.”18

Costs indeed limit access significantly: even

households that can afford a PC and long-

distance connection fees outside the capital

Yangon (Rangoon) and Mandalay cannot pay

KEY INDICATORS

worst best

GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2000 international $) ........ 1,446 3.50

Life expectancy at birth (years) ............................................. 61 4.19

Literacy rate (% of people age 15+) ..................................... 90 6.00

Human development index (out of 177) ............................... 130 3.52

Rule of law (out of 208) ...................................................... 202 1.87

Voice and accountability (out of 208) .................................. 208 0.69

Digital opportunity index (out of 180) .................................. 176 1.36

Internet users (% of population) ........................................... 0.1 3.07

Source (by indicator): IMF 2006; World Bank 2006a, 2006a; UNDP 2006; World Bank 2006c, 2006c; ITU 2006, 2004

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

OpenNet Initiative, Internet Filtering in Burma in 2005: A Country Study, at http://opennet.net/studies/burma/.

KHRG

D 22Monday, January 26, 2009

http://opennet.net/studies/burma/

http://opennet.net/studies/burma/

http://www.developmentseed.org/solutions


Our Research

Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border

Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border

Overcoming Obstacles,

Creating Opportunities

www.newwordsmedia.com




Key findingYoung Burmese with access to the internet were more likely to identify themselves as activists





Burma and its BordersIn Burma the cost of a “normal” GSM sim card is 2.5 million kyat.

This equals approximately $2000 on the black market conversion rate.

At the official rate this is approximately $393,400.

A new pre-paid sim costs between $20-$50 US dollars.

Use restricted to 1 month

Bangladesh

India (Delhi)

Thailand

China (Yunnan)

Burma

Dollars Local Currency

4.18 250

7.77 300

6.84 200

14.6 100

50 D 25Monday, January 26, 2009

Bangladesh: Mobile possibilities

- Large populations in refugee camps - stateless population- Extensive mobile penetration along border allows for reporting and monitoring





India: Challenges and opportunities

- Relative freedom of expression- Tech support in Delhi- Isolation along border





China: Land of the Free?

- Borders Kachin and Shan States in Burma- Ruili: largest Chinese city on border- Contact with outside world via China and Chinese technology- Relatively more internet freedom

“I think, to me, the China web is totally free.”

- Burmese male activist, 26


OVERCOMING OBSTACLES CREATING OPPORTUNITIESOVERCOMING OBSTACLES CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

168168

Thailand: Increased Opportunities

In Thailand, internet access is frequent. There, we found a correlation between access to internet and self-identification as an activist

Since then, internet access has grown, including affordable and reliable GPRS on mobiles


Solutions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/

1. Education 2. Inter-ethnic dialogue 3. Communication technology

“I came to study here, I can use computer, I can use email, and I also learn something from internet, I also know more experience.” – Male Student, age 23




Virtual Community Center

Similar to traditional community centers, VCC is a place for community groups to come together.


Virtual Community Center

D 2

Community Group

Citizen Citizen Citizen

Community Group

Community groups can:

Have an easy web presence

Learn about each others work

Easily partner

Receive support

Host discussions

Overcome distance

Overcome different languages

Secure Sharing:

Messages

Data

Pictures

Videos

Open Source

Phone Computer Computer


Virtual Community Center - Mobile

A network for map-based micro-blogging, which will be used by individuals and organizations along Burma's borders.

Handheld Human Rights: Engage human rights groups to communicate with one another and incorporate their data into the VCC.

Crowdsourcing the Constitution: Conduct film interviews with political leaders and engage citizens to respond to and debate key issues through the VCC.





Virtual Community Center - Mobile

http://www.developmentseed.org/D 2




Project Einstein

Digital Pen Pals - Photography-based participatory education program linking American students with refugee youth overseas.

“Because Einstein was a refugee but could still do great things”


Project Einstein: Digital Pen PalsPeace

Culture

Happiness

History

Let’s Discuss:

USA Ideas

Pictures

Lessons

Culture

Let’s Exchange:

Photo Books

Slideshows

VideosLet’s Create:

Resettled Refugees with American youth in US schools

Youth in refugee camps

D 2

Bangladesh


Cultural LandscapeAn interactive map where people can describe the past, present and future of their communities

http://www.developmentseed.org/

•Po Po•Shan•30 years old•This is me as a

girl in Myanmar during 2004. I sold masks to survive.







Problem Solution

Regional instability

World’s longest running civil war

Rampant use of child soldiers

Over 3.5 million internally displaced persons and refugees

Severe censorship

Cross-border communication

Networking among traditionally divided groups

Providing 21st century education

Connecting refugees with their resettled communities

Freedom of information


D 2

Mark Belinsky - [email protected] - +1-347-439-8431

Emily Jacobi - [email protected] - +1-347-328-3110

DTWO.ORG

Digital DemocracyWorking with local partners to connect people

through new technologies that encourage

education, communication and participation.


mailto:[email protected]





“Concepts such as truth, justice and compassion cannot be dismissed as trite

when these are often the only bulwarks which stand against ruthless power.”

-Aung San Suu Kyi Nobel Peace Prize 1991


D2 Overview

Technology

Transcript of D2 Overview