We propose that we’re in a techno-cultural condition of
increased, normalized and forced transparency. If liberal transparency opens up machinations of power for public and
democratic inspection, radical
transparency adds to this the private lives of citizens for inspection (as
Edward Snowden’s leaks revealed). Where radical transparency is enacted without citizens’
knowledge or consent, we enter the domain of forced transparency, where resistance to surveillance is tantamount
to guilt, and where choice, control and autonomy are stripped away
Led by Journalism, Security and Information
theorists and practitioners, this seminar explores state attempts to manage public and
political opinion of secretive national security and intelligence surveillance
methods. We discuss implications of forced transparency for whistle-blowers,
journalists, debates on national security issues and trust in government.
Our key questions include:
-
Should Snowden have revealed state surveillance
methods? Is there a 'privacy-security' trade-off?
-
How, when
secretive intelligence methods are leaked, do states attempt to manage
public and political opinion?
-
How do such leaks, and subsequent state media
management efforts, impact public trust?
-
How are national security whistle-blowers presented
to the public: heroes, traitors, lunatics, narcissists or something else? What
drives these representations, and what is their impact on public understanding
of national security issues?
-
Do we have a healthy public debate on national
security and intelligence issues in the UK? If not, what would improve its
quality?
-
Are intelligence agencies sufficiently accountable
to the public and politicians? If not, what should be done?
To
encourage participants’ engagement, the seminar will function through position
statements, roundtable discussions, and open discussion. Participants include:
o
Prof. Mark Phythian, Univ. of Leicester
o
Prof. Michael Levi, Cardiff Univ.
o
Iain Bourne, UK Information Commissioner's Office
o
Tom Gaffney, F-Secure
o
Tony Bunyan, Statewatch director, and investigative
journalist (The Guardian)
o
Christopher Hird, former editor Head of Bureau of
Investigative Journalism
o
Loz Kaye, Former Leader the Pirate Party,
Founder Fightback Org UK
o
Jim Killiock, Open Rights Group
o Birgitta Jónsdóttir, International Modern Media
Institute
o Jamie
Woodruff, Ethical hacker
If you haven’t participated before, have a scroll through this blog to see Position Statments from previous seminars. Also worth a look are the summaries and Policy Recommendations from Seminar 1 on Transparency Today: Exploring the Adequacy ofSur/Sous/Veillance Theory and Practice and Seminar 2 on Debating the Technical & Ethical Limits of Secrecy and Privacy.
To keep the conversation going, we encourage you to comment on each other's posts, too - especially those of you who can't make it to Brunel University on 8th July.
For those of you who can make it, the agenda for the day is below.
Agenda
The seminar will
take place in the Antonin Artaud Building at Brunel University
09.45–
10.15 Registration and refreshments. All seminars
in the music room AA109
10.30 –
11.00 Seminar series introduction: Vian Bakir
and Paul Lashmar
Recap of main aims of Seminar Series & themes covered
so far
11.00 –
12.30 Roundtable 1: Two years on from Snowden.
12.30 –
13.30 Lunch 1st floor room AA Building
AA103
13.30 – 14.45 Roundtable 2: Media agenda setting.
14.45 -
15.00 Refreshments
15.00 – 16.15 Roundtable 3: Trust and accountability.
16.15 –
17.00 Discussion and final thoughts
17.30 End of seminar meal at the Lancaster Lodge
Restaurant at Brunel
We look forward to welcoming you to Brunel.
Paul Lashmar
Vian Bakir
We look forward to welcoming you to Brunel.
Paul Lashmar
Vian Bakir
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