OSCE Media Representative to hold conference on media freedom on the Internet

VIENNA/AMSTERDAM, 23 August 2004 - "Guaranteeing Media Freedom on the Internet" is the title of the 2nd Amsterdam Internet Conference to be held on 27 and 28 August 2004. It will be hosted by Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Over 70 participants from the OSCE region are expected to attend the conference, including some 20 international experts representing governments, non-governmental organizations, the media and academia.

The topics will include legislation and jurisdiction for digital networks; hate speech on the Internet; education and the development of Internet literacy; access to information and networks as well as the problems of self-regulation, blocking and filtering.

Mr Haraszti and Mr. Lodewijk Asscher, Member of the City Council of Amsterdam, will open the two-day event at 9:00 on Friday, 27 August.

The conference is a follow-up to the 2003 Amsterdam Internet Conference. The agenda was developed during a Seminar in Vienna on 30 June 2004 together with delegations from OSCE participating States.

The results of the 2004 Amsterdam Conference will be incorporated into a "Freedom of the Media Internet Cookbook" with recommendations and best practices, published by the OSCE Media Representative later this year.

The conference will be held in the Raadzaal of the City Hall in Amsterdam (Stopera, Amstel 1, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). It will be open to the media. No accreditation is necessary. However, for entry please provide a valid press card or personal ID.

Photo opportunities and interviews with the Media Representative may be arranged; please contact his Office beforehand.

A special conference website can be found at the OSCE website.