Our civil liberties and human rights have been dramatically affected by the digital age, and not for the better. A new European directive will force ISPs and telecos to retain data about your phone calls and web surfing habits; companies are routinely locking up content with insecure digital rights management software; and moves are afoot to make the infringement of copyright a criminal offence. Whilst the software patent battle was (temporarily) won last year, the threats to our digital rights continue to mount.

The Open Rights Group is a new digital rights advocacy group set up in the UK to work with European and American organisations, such as EDRi and the EFF, on campaigns which fight bad legislation and engage the public in grassroots activities. Our aims are to raise public awareness of digital rights issues, provide information to the media and connect them with relevant experts and activists, and to nurture a community of campaigning volunteers.

A supporter-funded organisation, the Open Rights Group has already had some success in raising public awareness of the EU’s data retention directive, and recently gave evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Internet Group in a public inquiry into digital rights management.

This talk will give attendees an overview of the main threats to their digital liberties, and an insight into action they can take to protect their rights.