Open Rights Group

Open Rights Group is a United Kingdom-based digital rights organization that campaigns for privacy, freedom of speech, and copyright reform, often working with Amnesty International, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Human Rights Watch. The organization was founded in 2005 by Ian Brown, Lorrie Cranor, and Judith Rauhofer, with the goal of promoting and protecting human rights in the digital age, similar to the work of American Civil Liberties Union and European Court of Human Rights. Open Rights Group has been involved in various high-profile campaigns, including the Stop Online Piracy Act and Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement protests, alongside Google, Facebook, and Twitter. The organization has also worked with Members of Parliament, such as Tom Watson and Julian Huppert, to advocate for digital rights in the UK Parliament.

Introduction

Open Rights Group is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from individuals and grants from organizations like the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and Open Society Foundations. The organization's work is focused on digital rights, including online surveillance, data protection, and intellectual property reform, often in collaboration with Privacy International, Statewatch, and La Quadrature du Net. Open Rights Group has been critical of mass surveillance programs, such as those revealed by Edward Snowden and Wikileaks, and has worked with journalists like Glenn Greenwald and Sarah Kendzior to expose human rights abuses. The organization has also been involved in litigation against government agencies, including the UK Government and National Security Agency, with the support of law firms like Bindmans and Liberty.

History

Open Rights Group was founded in 2005, in response to the growing need for digital rights advocacy in the United Kingdom. The organization's early work focused on copyright reform and intellectual property issues, including the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property and the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth. Open Rights Group has also been involved in European Union policy debates, including the Telecoms Package and the Digital Single Market initiative, working with Members of the European Parliament like Marietje Schaake and Christian Engström. The organization has collaborated with other digital rights groups, such as EDRi and Bits of Freedom, to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in the digital age.

Activities

Open Rights Group engages in a range of activities, including research, advocacy, and community outreach. The organization has published reports on topics like online surveillance, data protection, and intellectual property reform, often in collaboration with academics from universities like University of Cambridge and University of Oxford. Open Rights Group has also organized events and conferences, including the ORGCon series, which brings together experts from industry, academia, and civil society to discuss digital rights issues. The organization has worked with companies like Microsoft and Yahoo! to promote best practices in data protection and online security, and has partnered with organizations like ARTICLE 19 and Index on Censorship to advocate for freedom of expression.

Campaigns

Open Rights Group has been involved in several high-profile campaigns, including the Stop Online Piracy Act and Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement protests, which were supported by companies like Google and Facebook. The organization has also campaigned against mass surveillance programs, including the UK Government's Communications Data Bill and the National Security Agency's PRISM program, often in collaboration with journalists like Nick Davies and Heather Brooke. Open Rights Group has worked with Members of Parliament to advocate for digital rights in the UK Parliament, including the Digital Economy Act 2010 and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. The organization has also been involved in European Union policy debates, including the General Data Protection Regulation and the Copyright Directive.

People

Open Rights Group has a board of directors that includes experts from industry, academia, and civil society. The organization's executive director is Jim Killock, who has worked with organizations like Privacy International and Statewatch to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in the digital age. Open Rights Group has also been supported by patrons like Neil Gaiman and Cory Doctorow, who are authors and activists known for their work on digital rights issues. The organization has collaborated with researchers from universities like University of Edinburgh and University of Sussex, and has worked with law firms like Bindmans and Liberty to advocate for digital rights in the courts. Category:Digital rights organizations