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Beliefs , Attitudes and Uses Underpinning Freedom of Expression and Privacy Online: A Comparative Perspective. William Dutton Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford Global Values Project: http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/projects/?id=65.
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Beliefs, Attitudesand Uses UnderpinningFreedomofExpressionandPrivacy Online: A ComparativePerspective William Dutton Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford Global Values Project: http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/projects/?id=65 Presentation for Freedom of Expression on the Internet, UNESCO, with the Moroccan Internet Society, Marrakesh, Morocco, 16 February 2013
The Global Values Project • Focus: Global User Perspectives on Freedom of Expression • Researchers: William Dutton, Principal Investigator; SoumitraDutta, Co-Principal Investigator; Ginette Law, Research Associate, Gillian Bolsover, Research Assistant, Isabella Litke, Research Assistant • Based at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, in collaboration with the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University. • Surveys conducted in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and comScore with support from ictQatar • Administrative support through ISIS Innovation, University of Oxford • Online field research conducted by Toluna and comScore
The Global Values Project: The New Internet World New online nations are dominant in the New World; Users developing a global Internet culture: sharing similar values and attitudes; Newly adopting countries are as liberal, if not more so, such as in support for freedom of expression; Users in the newly adopting nations are more innovative in some patterns of use, e.g., social networking.
ResearchQuestions • Where does MENA sit in the ‘New Internet World’? • Are there patterns of beliefs, attitudes or use constraining freedom of expression or privacy online in the MENA region?
Methodology • Online survey of Internet users in selected nations of the Middle East and North Africa conducted in two phases, from July through September 2012, fielded by Toluna.* • Merged with online survey of Internet users in selected nations world-wide from July through September 2012, fielded by comScore. • Contextualized by review of related research and literature, including other survey data available to the project investigators. *The survey was suspended during Ramadan.
The Survey Sample Composition: • 11,225 respondents in over 58 countries
Global Values: Freedom of Expression, Privacy, Trust, … Image scourtesy of maya picture and digitalart/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
“I can express myself freely online” Proportions Who ‘Totally Disagree’ (MENA)
Privacy and Data Protection • Users are divided over the conditions under which governments should have any role in monitoring online behavior. • Users express guarded support for monitoring use, but not tracking their own online activity. • Users exhibit uncertainty over who is collecting what personal information about them online. • Many users are worried about putting personal information online. Imagesscourtesy of Salvatore Vuono and adamr/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Over-Arching Themes • The MENA Region Reflects the New Internet World • - Innovative Uses of the Internet and Social Media • - Support for the Internet for Information, Entertainment, Expression, … • - Support for Core Internet Values: Freedom of Expression, Privacy, … • - But More Sensitive Areas of Expression • Concerns over Privacy, Trust, Security, … • Spectrum of Regional Opinions between Two Poles: • Traditional versus Next Generation Users • (education, age, and experience online) • Differences with MENA Region Image courtesy of uak_rock8/Flickr.com
Implications for Discussion • Interventions in Support of More Inclusive Access: • - Take-up • - Skills • - Digital Literacy • Encourage Greater Use in Business, Government and Commerce • Foster Dialogue Across the Spectrum of Opinions • Address Uncertainties and Anxieties