Is whistleblowing a threat to democracy or a necessary element of democratic control over institutions? How can whistleblowers be protected by the risk of abusive prosecution? This lab will present platforms to connect whistleblowers with journalists and to safeguard whistleblower’s anonymity.  

Freedom of information and press freedom are basic pillars of democracy. In many countries of the world, however, journalists are attacked, harassed, detained and even killed because of their work or reporting. What can media do to oppose the threat to freedom of information and fully play its role as an instigator of public debate?

The lab aims to question the role of regulation of freedom of expression in the current context of the terrorist threat and spread of content that incites hatred and violence online. It proposes to compare experiences of a media regulatory authority (HAICA - Tunisia) and an authority for the protection of personal data (CNIL - Burkina Faso) in terms of safeguarding freedom of expression in the fight against terrorism.

In amany parts of the world, being a journalist means being an activist. Journalists in these states sometimes risk their lives for providing their fellow citizens with information. They often urge for political or social change. How can free media be supported when powerful governments or corporations exercise pressure upon journalists in the name of national security?

As exemplified by phenomena such as the sharing economy, the Internet of Things, the Dark web, and mass surveillance, the internet has become a political issue of crucial importance for citizens on a global scale. The internet is a global commons and affects, directly or indirectly, the daily life of every person on this planet. Hence, the governance of the internet cannot be in the hands of a few corporations, but must adhere to the principles of democratic governance. What will be the source of legitimacy and the processes which ensure transparency and accountability of Internet governance? How to make sure that it will effectively uphold and protect the rights of Internet users? This lab will therefore discuss alternative models of democratic decision-making in order to establish a genuine dialogue among citizens and include them in the framework of internet governance.