FKI on Openness and Freedom

From Free Knowledge Institute

WeRebuild has set up the following questionnair about what NGOs think of openness. See for more information WeRebuild Survey to NGOs

Question 1: What does the concept of openness mean to your organisation and your work?

FKI:

The Free Knowledge Institute works for a society that assures equal access and possibilities for participation in the production of information, technology, cultural works and other forms of knowledge. Openness and freedom are fundamental aspects for that. Openness relates to making expressions of knowledge openly accessible. Freedom relates to the right of individuals to use that expression of knowledge, modify it and share it with the rest of the world.

The Free Knowledge Institute cares about these values of openness and freedom and therefore they are among its Founding Principles.

Question 2: What is, according to you, an open communications infrastructure?

FKI:

An open communications infrastructure is a decentralised or distributed network based on open standards and makes no discrimination to the traffic over that network (net neutrality), while allowing all interested agents to join and make use of the network without restrictions.

Open Standards and net neutrality, in combination with Free Software, are the foundations of the success of the Internet.

Question 3: How does openness affect citizenship and competition in the European Union?

FKI:

The rise of the Internet has brought in reach to a growing number of people and organisations access to and participation in the production of knowledge in all its forms. This has resulted in a change of paradigm where instead of being just consumers, citizens can co-produce, without the need for permission from or dependence on dominant market players.

This process of openness and freedom has sparkled many new forms of innovation, production and distribution. It provides more means for both competition and democracy.

For business, freedom and openness provide a level playing field, and facilitate old and new players to innovate and participate in the marketplace. But this also forms serious threats to some vested interests. Conventional businesses need to adapt to these new forms, and civil society and governments need to watch carefully to avoid domination by a minority and the stiffling of innovation.

For democracy, openness is needed for transparency and access to knowledge, while freedom ultimately guarantees diversity and the freedom of speech. Freedom and openness are the corner stones for any democratic constitution and need to be safeguarded more than ever.