The human rights implications of internet use have been subject to debate since the mid 1990s, yet recently the agenda has taken on a new momentum. On the one hand, policy makers practically compete to highlight the role of the internet as a tool for social change with policy implications in a number of spheres. On the other hand, the recent Snowden revelations have illustrated the  tremendous challenge of upholding human rights standards in an online domain. This is indicative of competing interests such as freedom versus control, but also indicates essentially different perspectives toward the internet.

In her talk, Rikke will discuss these current challenges to human rights protection on the internet based on four metaphors; the internet as infrastructure, the internet as public sphere, the internet as medium, and the internet as culture.

Rikke Frank Jørgensen is Special Advisor at the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

The seminar takes place from 12:30 to 15:00 at room 333 in the Ada-building. The seminar will be in Danish.