Leading up to the 2008 Canadian federal election, Spark presents Canada’s Digital Wish List. We’re asking people who work in technology and innovation to tell us what they think Canada needs to do now in order to be considered a major innovator in the future.
Ron Deibert teaches Political Science and runs the Citizen Lab at the Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto. He’s the co-founder of the OpenNet Initative, a research project which aims to uncover and analyse internet censorship and surveillance worldwide. You might have heard of him through his work with psiphon, a tool that transforms the average home computer into an encrypted server so internet users in countries where the web is censored can access blocked sites.
Ron stopped by recently to fill us in on his digital wishlist for this election. What he really wants to see from the candidates is a more serious position on international human rights online, support for innovation in culture and the arts, and a pledge to keep the net neutral.
Play audio:
You can listen to Ron’s wish list above, or download the MP3.
You can also watch Nora’s full interview with Ron, or download the Quicktime version.
Check back for more digital wish lists, and make sure to add your wish to the list.
Can you post a more accessible version of the video file? Apparently I have to be logged in to Vimeo to get it. If you're looking for a more open video host, I suggest blip.tv.
(Also, I liked the music)
I tried to listen to this interesting item and was completely distracted by the cheesy and irrelevant background music. Why, why, why has this fad taken off on CBC interviews? (Jian Gomeshi’s show is another major offender). Give us the voice, period – that’s where the message is, that’s what we tune in for – and skip the elevator music, please.
Hello Carol,
Thanks so much for commenting. I’m sorry to hear that the music we used doesn’t match your personal taste.
For you (and others who prefer to hear “the voice, period”) I’ve prepared a voice-only version of Ron’s wishlist. You may download it from the following URL:
http://podcast.cbc.ca/spark/spark_20080924_wishlist2nomusic.mp3
Padraic,
As requested: http://podcast.cbc.ca/spark/spark_20080925_digitalwishlist2video.mov
I’ve updated the link in the post, too.
@Dan,
Now that’s service!
Personally, I like the music. Makes me
feel like some kind of beatnik lounge prof.
@profd,
Can a beret be far behind?
I have to agree with the dislike for the music. I tried to listen to the interview while also doing other tasks and I can’t remember one word of the speaker, but the music is at the front of my brain. I’m going to have to re-listen to the music-less version to get the meat.
Re Music under voice:
PLEASE make it go away. Are you broadcasting to an audience that is so multi task oriented that it is no longer capable of doing ONE thing at a time?
tnx mk
Nora, I tried the beret, but it was too distracting. People kept shouting, “Look, it’s Hugo Chavez!”
Many thanks for the video link.