Frontline Club London.
Speakers: Renata Avila, Sarah Harrison and Angela Richter.
22 January 2018 00:00
Women, Whistleblowing, WikiLeaks - Live from Frontline Club.
“It’s been striking to me that, in my years of working in the world of digital activism, from WikiLeaks to a diverse range of internet groups, women are active and hold important positions, yet are seldom prominent. This is not because women lack the assertiveness to occupy a role in the foreground, as is so often claimed with a certain paternalism. It stems, in part, from the unwillingness of mainstream media to appreciate and fairly report the role of women” – Angela Richter
The most controversial activist organisation of the 21st century,
WikiLeaks has attracted strong, divergent opinions from across the political spectrum. Lauded by its supporters for its indispensable role in holding governments, corporations, and human rights abusers to account, its advocates and journalists have been excoriated by opponents as traitors, threats to legitimate governments, and misogynists. Yet so much media attention is focused upon founder Julian Assange, and his ongoing confinement in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, that the broader dimensions of WikiLeaks are rarely aired. Especially critical in these omissions is the role of women, both in the organisation and the more general struggle for information freedom.
The protagonists of the new book: “Women, Whistleblowing, WikiLeaks” will be in conversation to discuss the themes of their new book and show the various ways they’ve been at the forefront of such activity:
- acclaimed journalist and human rights advocate Sarah Harrison,
- Croatian-German theater director, activist and author Angela Richter,
- and Renata Avila, a celebrated Guatemalan human rights lawyer and digital rights expert.
Ranging widely, from the dishonesty of the mainstream media and its contrasting treatment of Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning to the terrifying monopolisation of personal data under tech behemoths such as Facebook and Google, join us for an ongoing debate around digital activism.
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