The Facebook and Google privacy controversies of Spring 2010 highlighted the gap between technical innovation and user expectations on a global scale, leading representatives of various user constituencies to draft a definitive Social Media Users Bill of Rights for the 21st Century at the Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference in San Jose, CA. The idea of a Social Network Users’ Bill of Rights (#billofrights) has been around for years, but no large user set has actually collated the key values and principles that should go into such a Bill of Rights and put them to a world-wide vote – until now. All privacy law is based to some degree on social norms. The panelists and other representatives of various user constituents drafted a definitive Social Media Users Bill of Rights. This kicked off a conversation between Facebook, the ACLU and others affected by technology’s expansion into daily life. The next step is to debate and have a public vote on it. The voting is open from now until June 15, 2011 – the anniversary of the date the U.S. government asked Twitter to delay its scheduled server maintenance as a critical communication tool for use in the 2009 Iran elections. As the preamble of the document reads, "We the Users," the “Bill of Rights” document has been released to the public for vetting and debate. This is an important step, both from a future activism and legislative perspective, in the fight to define our digital futures. Through this discussion, we will explore the evolution of privacy in the digital age, the changing relationship between users and online service providers, and the social, political and cultural ramifications of life in a networked world – and the SXSWi community will have a say in the development of a watershed document for user rights online.
Alexander B. Howard is the Government 2.0 Correspondent for O'Reilly Media, where he reports on technology, open government and online civics. Before joining O'Reilly, Howard was the associate editor of SearchCompliance.com at TechTarget. His work there focused on how regulations affect IT operations, including issues of data protection, privacy, security and enterprise IT strategy. Before moving the focus of his coverage to cybersecurity, online privacy and compliance, Howard was the associate editor of WhatIs.com, an online IT encyclopedia. In that role, he researched and wrote about nearly every aspect of enterprise IT, including the impact of social software on business and the media. In his spare time, he practiced writing about himself in the third person, with mixed results. Howard's work experience also includes working in operations for an e-business consultancy, as a knowledge broker for a management consulting firm, as a middle school teacher, as a master home builder and, very briefly, as a garden manager at an outstanding Italian restaurant. Howard graduated from Colby College with a bachelor's degree in biology and sociology.
Christina Gagnier leads the Intellectual Property & Technology practice at Gagnier Margossian LLP. Gagnier serves as the Chief Executive Officer of REALPOLITECH, a digital public relations and web strategy consultancy. Gagnier consults technology firms on policy issues ranging from patent law reform to communications issues, such as Network Neutrality. Gagnier’s primary research concerns issues of cyber rights and the intersection of on and offline action. Previously, she served as the Chief Information Officer of Mobilize.org, directing the organization’s strategic
communications, online interface and research programs.
Gagnier has customized Gagnier Margossian LLP’s technology practice to broadly serve the needs of “startups.” Working with artists, Web TV writers and producers, Internet companies and mobile application developers, Gagnier provides digital strategy advising to clients who are often times navigating uncharted legal territory. Christina holds a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from the University of California, Irvine, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco.
Christina blogs in the Technology section of The Huffington Post. She is frequently invited to sit on panels discussing issues like Information Privacy, law in the digital age, Government 2.0 and citizen engagement. She has also been a guest commentator on TV shows like Russia Today’s CrossTalk and NBC’s Press:Here.
Jack Lerner is Clinical Assistant Professor of Law at the USC Gould School of Law and is Director of the USC Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic, where students under his supervision work with filmmakers, entrepreneurs, artists and others who face challenges at the intersection of art, law, and technology. Prior to joining USC, Jack taught at UC-Berkeley School of Law and practiced law in Palo Alto, CA. Jack is a graduate of the University of Kansas and Harvard Law School.
Lisa Borodkin is passionate about popularizing technology and simplifying the law. She is a SXSWi panelist on "Social Network Users' Bill of Rights: You Decide."
Lisa is the co-author with Jack Lerner of "We, the Users - Facebook Users' Bill of Rights," an editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle in May 2010. She has practiced Internet law since 1998, and co-hosts a technology law web series, TechZulu Law, with Christina Gagnier.
Lisa has a private law practice in Los Angeles focused on technology, law and media. Her practice has evolved with the Internet, from meta tag infringement, cybersquatting, and Napster, to technology IPOs, file-sharing litigation, Web 2.0, reputation rating websites and advising technology startups. She has represented AOL, Network Solutions, Dr. Dre, Metallica and negotiated with film and television studios and online web television distributors. Her IP litigation focuses on impact Internet law cases. She is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Interactive Peer Group and is a reviewer and Law topic admin on Quora.com.
Lisa is a regular contributor to California Lawyer Magazine on legal ethics in the social media age. She has appeared as a guest on Denise Howell's "This Week in Law" on the TWiT network and guest lectured at USC's Annenberg School.
Lisa received an A.B. from Harvard College, a Master’s degree from the University of London and a J.D. from Columbia University. She likes cool people, like you.
