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Jun 1 2009, 10:08 AM EDT Anonymous

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Twittering in the Trenches
Social networks: fulfilling the promise of the net

an all-day workshop Monday, June 1
at Computers, Freedom and Privacy 2009

George Washington University Marvin Center
800 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052

online via ustream.tv and Twitter

organized by Sarah Granger (@sairy), Deborah Pierce (@hellrazr), Jon Pincus (@jdp23), Shireen Mitchell (@digitalsista)


Format


  • A full-day in-person workshop, with attendees welcome to participate for all or part.
  • An online component as well, for those who aren't able to attend in person.

ScheduleVideo and schedule


9:00-9:15: Welcome and review of last year's workshop (Deborah Pierce of PrivacyActivism.org)

9:15-9:45: Keynote: Net movements in the Obama era (Ari Melber, net movement columnist for The Nation)

9:45-10:15: Social media technology overview for activists (Shireen Mitchell)

10:15-10:30 Discussion

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45--11:00 Introducing the "tracks" (Jon Pincus of achangeiscoming.net)

11:00 -12:15 Multiple tracks in parallel (see more detailed descriptions below), including lunchtime discussions. incorporate success stories in all of them
  • policy and campaigns (Jon)technology (Shireen)privacy advocates on social network sites (Deborah)
  • policy and campaigns (Jon): notes here
  • technology (Shireen)
12:15 - 1:45 lunch

1:45 - 2:00:2:30 tracks continuereport back, discussion. Notes here

2:002:30 - 3:00 tracks report3:15 back,activism discussion3:15campaigns -for 3:30privacy break3:30on -social 3:45networks. Legalnotes perspectives:coming Mikesoon Godwinhere.

3:45 - 4:45: brainstorming the futurefuture. notes coming soon here.

4:45 - 5:00: wrapup and next steps. workshop results will be presented to the main conference in a plenary on social network activism, details TBD.

5:00 - 6:00: hanging out: chips and beer

6:00 - 9:00 CFP reception at Public Citizen


To be incorporated throughout: 5-minute success stories
  • successful campaigns, with the goal of distilling patterns of success and best practices
  • discussion will happen later, in tracks, over BOFS, at the GeekShare
  • online resources developed for these will be a useful asset for activists -- and designers of social network sites

Policy


How can terms of use policies balance the need to protect inexperienced or vulnerable users with robust free speech -- without allowing trolls to overrun the site, and without reducing users to feeling like they're living on sufferance? How can privacy policies empower users by putting them control in control of their information? What can we learn from the Facebook Terms of Service protest and subsequent "rights and responsibilities" discussion?

This track is targeted at corporate and governmental law and policy experts, as well as privacy and free speech advocates.

Outputs:
  • resources for site operators and for activists
  • list of "big questions"

Technology track


How can social network sites be designed and operated with an eye towards freedom and privacy? What kind of functionality is needed for activists, and how can existing platforms such as Drupal, Wordpress, Soapblox, and commercial sites such as Ning fit in?

This track is targeted primarily at technologists and activists, and is something of a followon to last year's session on Designing Social Networking Tools for Activism

Outputs: requirements sketch for technology solutions focused on activists' needs


Privacy advocates on social network sites


Given the panoptic nature of social network sites, and the murky legal status of speech in this environment, many privacy advocates are justifiably wary of getting involved. However, without participating on these sites, there's no way to reach the millennial 28-and-under generation -- or get a first-person understanding of the issues. How to bridge the gap?

This track is targeted primarily at privacy advocates.

Outputs:
  • best practices for privacy advocates
  • recommendations for site policies on pseudonymity, data retention, terms of service
  • "getting started" information: wiki pages on getting started on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, ...

Background