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UNESCO congress, March 10-12, 1997
Dear STAMAsters,
UNESCO International Congress on Ethical, Legal and Societal Aspects of
Digital Information (Poitiers, France, 10-12 March 1997)
Following the Liege meeting in May this year it would seem like a good idea
to have some sort of ICA/SUV Science Archives Subgroup representation at
this Congress and perhaps someone from the broader STAMA group attending and
linking to the rest of us. Any takers (particularly those in Europe)?
Theme B is of great significance but the all themes have some relevance.
Cheers ... Gavan
> United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
>Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'education, la science et la culture
>
>
> INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON
> ETHICAL, LEGAL AND SOCIETAL ASPECTS
> OF DIGITAL INFORMATION
>
> (Poitiers, France, 10-12 March 1997)
>
>
> PROVISIONAL ANNOTATED PROGRAMME
>
>
> Information and Informatics Division
> June 1996
>
>
>BACKGROUND
>
>The development of digital technologies and their application in
>worldwide information networks are opening vast new opportunities for
>efficient access to and use of information by all societies. All nations
>can fully benefit from these opportunities on the condition that they
>meet the challenges posed by these information and communication
>technologies.
>
>Many countries and many international organizations are today considering
>the best ways of dealing with these challenges. UNESCO, as the principal
>international agency responsible for cooperation in the fields of
>communication, information (i.e. libraries, archives, and scientific and
>technical information) and informatics is committed by its constitution
>to contribute to the advancement of mutual knowledge and understanding of
>people and to promote free flow of ideas by word and image.
>
>An International Expert Meeting on Legal and Ethical Issues of Access to
>Electronic Information was organized at UNESCO Headquarters in July 1995.
>The meeting recommended that UNESCO organize an International Congress on
>the Ethical, Legal and Societal Aspects of Digital Information and
>defined its objectives.
>
>This Congress has been included in UNESCO's work plan for 1996-1997.
>UNESCO is approaching the National Commissions for UNESCO in Member
>States to ensure appropriate participation and to mobilize resources.
>
>
>OBJECTIVES
>
>The Congress aims to create a forum to reaffirm the importance of
>universal access to information in the Global Information Infrastructure
>and to define ways in which it may be achieved and maintained in the
>advancing Information Society.
>
>In particular, it will:
>
>1. identify the major ethical issues requiring international
>attention concerning the production, access, dissemination, preservation
>and use of digitized multimedia information on the global information
>highways;
>
>2. identify the essential principles to be considered by countries
>when formulating their policies on these issues;
>
>3. make proposals for an international strategy for co-operation.
>
>
>
> PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
>
> Sunday, 9 March
>
>REGISTRATION
>
>
> Monday, 10 March
>
>OPENING SESSION AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS
>
>THEME A: ACCESSING DIGITAL INFORMATION
>
>Topic 1: Universal access to information highways
>
>The state of the art of electronic access to data, documents, still
>images and video, and sound files. Major constraints (political,
>economic, social, cultural, educational) to this access. Organizational
>changes which may be required to provide and maintain this access,
>particularly in remote areas and developing countries. Ethical and legal
>principles which might guide the introduction of such changes at the
>local, national and international levels.
>
>Topic 2: Copyright, intellectual property rights and fair use
>
>Ways in which electronic access may modify present approaches to these
>issues and the impact of electronic document delivery services on them.
>The need to ensure a balance between fair use and intellectual property
>rights in a largely open, interactive environment and to guarantee these
>rights across borders in inter-operable information systems. New ethical
>and legal approaches which may be required to protect the rights of
>information creators and providers (authors, publishers, servers,
>libraries, electronic archives). International action to support policy
>instruments protecting national jurisdictions in fair use and copyright.
>
>Topic 3: Multilingualism and cultural diversity
>
>Common ethical and legal approaches which could encourage the
>multilingualism, plurality and cultural diversity of circulating
>information. Moral obligation for the providers of digital information to
>preserve and promote this diversity, particularly in the transborder
>circulation of information. The role of the international community in
>ensuring such diversity.
>
>Topic 4: Security, privacy and freedom of information
>
>Common principles which might guide countries in their handling of these
>issues at the national level and complement technical solutions
>(encryption, user authentication, etc). The advantages and disadvantages
>of control on the information highways. The obligations of information
>providers to prevent deliberate or inadvertent access to private and
>confidential information. The role of international organizations in
>helping to ensure that aggressive and discriminatory behaviour (violence,
>pornography, racism, intolerance, etc.) is appropriately prevented on
>information highways.
>
>Debate on theme A
>
>
> Tuesday, 11 March
>
>THEME B: PRESERVING DIGITAL INFORMATION AND RECORDS
>
>Topic 1: Archiving of digital information
>
>General principles for ensuring the retention of digital intellectual
>records and information, especially after their commercial value is
>exhausted. The validity of the definitions of information and records in
>the digital context. Issues of legal deposit. Responsibility of
>corporations, public institutions and others in archiving digital
>records. Costs and responsibility for their maintenance over time.
>Legislation concerning long-term commitment when commercial and legal
>liability are involved. The role of international action on matters of
>electronic archiving.
>
>Topic 2: Reliability and accountability of information through
>time
>
>Ensuring the reliability of digital information and records diffused
>through information highways, especially of information which is crossing
>national borders. Moral and legal obligations to review information to
>ensure its authenticity and reliability at the national and international
>level. Accountability for information transmitted on the global highways.
>Professional obligations of information access agencies (publishers,
>libraries, information servers, etc.) in this accountability. Assigning
>this accountability across organizations and maintaining it over time.
>
>Topic 3: Legal requirements and practices for long-term
>preservation
>
>Methods for ensuring that policies, standards and practices in preserving
>information and records based on evolving technologies can be adapted
>over time. Ways and means of creating a consistent approach to the
>creation and maintenance of intellectual memory in digital form.
>Standards needed to guarantee the maintenance and retrievability of
>digital material during its whole lifetime. Responsibility of individual
>organizations for standards of quality and their application. Design of
>an accreditation scheme for the replication of digital information.
>
>Debate on theme B
>
>
>THEME C: PREPARING OUR SOCIETIES FOR THE MULTIMEDIA ENVIRONMENT
>
>Topic 1: Digital literacy ("mediacy")
>
>Planning, administering and financing the acquisition of the new
>knowledge and skills required for using digital information. Ways of
>ensuring that all sections of the society (isolated or disadvantaged
>communities, developing countries, etc.) have the opportunity to acquire
>the new basic competences and the ability to apply them for their
>educational and social needs. The moral role of families and civil
>society (non-governmental organizations, associations, etc). The role of
>international support in encouraging countries to make the necessary
>adjustments in their educational systems and laws (planning, finance,
>administration) .
>
>Topic 2: "Mediacy" partnership: cultural and academic, public and
>private sectors
>
>Ways to ensure lifelong learning for "mediacy", particularly in
>developing countries, through action of public sector, business and
>academic institutions. The content of "mediacy" learning. Preparing
>society, especially its information deprived sections, for the next steps
>in the technological evolution (telework, on-line virtual manipulation of
>images and sound, etc.) North-South co-operation in specific projects
>through information highways.
>
>Topic 3: Responsibilities in the Global Information Infrastructure
>
>Self-regulation (softlaw) or legal frameworks required to guide the
>rights and responsibilities of those who produce, distribute, preserve
>and use information in an interactive environment. Identification of
>different forms of self-regulation. The inclusion of these new concepts
>in curricula for teaching "mediacy", especially in developing countries.
>Other ethical components to be included.
>
>Debate on theme C
>
>
> Wednesday, 12 March
>
>WORKING GROUPS ON THEMES A, B AND C
>
>PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF CONCLUSIONS
>
>CLOSURE
>
>
>
>PARTICIPANTS
>
>
>Participants, invited in their personal capacity, will include
>specialists in the legal and technical fields of telecommunication,
>broadcasting, audiovisual production, libraries, archives, museums,
>information technology, social sciences and education. They will come
>from :
>
>
> - UNESCO Member States (public and private sectors);
>
> - International intergovernmental organizations;
>
> - International non-governmental organizations.
>
>
>EXHIBITION
>
>An exhibition of the applications of new technologies will be organized
>in conjunction with the Congress. Enterprises in the field of
>communication, information services, informatics and publishing are
>welcome to participate. Those interested are invited to contact the
>Secretariat of the Congress.
>
>
>WORKING LANGUAGES
>
>Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in three languages: English,
>French and Spanish.
>
>
>FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
>
>Mr V. Montviloff
>UNESCO, CII/INF
>7, Place de Fontenoy
>F-75352 Paris 07 SP
>Tel : (33-1) 45 68 45 03
>Fax : (33-1) 44 49 00 58
>E-mail: v.montviloff@unesco.org
>Diane Whitehouse
>PhD Programme
>London Business School
>Sussex Place
>Regent's Park
>London NW1 4SA
>Tel 0171 262 5050 X3646
>Fax 0171 724 7875
>Email dwhitehouse@lbs.lon.ac.uk
>
>
>Forwarded by:
>
>Roger Clarke http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/
>Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
>Tel: +61 6 288 6916 Fax: +61 6 288 1472
>
>Visiting Fellow, Faculty of Email: Roger.Clarke@anu.edu.au
> Engineering and Information Technology
>Information Sciences Building Room 211 Tel: +61 6 249 3666
>The Australian National University
>Canberra ACT 0200 AUSTRALIA Fax: +61 6 249 0010
>
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Sherratt (Tim.Sherratt@asap.unimelb.edu.au)
Deputy Director, Australian Science Archives Project
GPO Box 783, Canberra ACT 2601 Ph: +61 (0)6 257 7985
ASAPWeb! on http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/
----> ASAP - Recovering Australia's Scientific Heritage