Online Civic Space

Category: Policy Areas | Back to Glossary

As online spaces for participation become increasingly popular, governments must work to ensure protection of basic rights — including the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association — in the digital world.

Technical specifications: Pertains to the protection of basic civil liberties online (expression, assembly, association). For example, does the government allow people to create their own civic space?

See also: Freedom of ExpressionJournalists and activists are critical intermediaries connecting public officials with citizens and serving as government watchdogs, and their rights and safety need to be protected. Technical specifi... More, Freedom of AssemblyPeaceful assembly — a fundamental human right — is essential to healthy and effective democratic institutions. Technical specifications: Protection of the individual right to peacefully assemble, ... More, Freedom of AssociationFreedom of association — the right to join a formal or informal group to take collective action — is a universal right and can be used as a mechanism for public accountability. Technical specifica... More