I have a few busy weeks with conferences, and here is the schedule and topics if anyone is interested:

I was first in Istanbul, Turkey for the 6th Gathering in Istanbul for Freedom of Expression which took place between 22-24 May, 2009 (see the media coverage). My speech for the conference was entitled Racist content, hate speech, and discrimination on the Internet: Implications for freedom of expression. I also chaired two panels on the second day of the conference.

Next stop for me is Reykjavik, Iceland. I am invited speaker for the Council of Europe organized Forum on Anti-terrorism legislation and its impact on freedom of expression and information which will take place on Wednesday, 27 May, 2009. The aim of the forum will be to exchange experiences on the impact of anti-terrorism legislation and its implementation on freedom of expression and information in Europe. My paper for the conference is entitled To Block or Not to Block: European Approaches to Terrorist Use of the Internet, and Implications for Freedom of Expression and Information. While in Reykjavik I shall also attend the 1st Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Media and New Communication Services as an observer. This conference will take place between 28-29 May, 2009.

I will then travel to Bonn, Germany between 02-05 June, 2009 for the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum: Conflict Prevention in the Multimedia Age. I am speaking at a panel entitled “Suppressed websites – will censors lose the race?,” organized by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The panel will take place on Friday, 05 June, 2009. I shall be speaking about issues related to Internet censorship in Turkey.

That’s all for now…..