William H. Dutton

The Economist recently addressed the chilling effect that libel law is likely to have on Twitter, arguing that: ‘Now it [Twitter] seems to fall under the law’s shadow to a greater extent than similar speech does on the offline world’ (November 24, 2012: 37). But it is not simply libel law that could undermine freedom [...]

As part of the EC-funded ULab project, the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford organized an online competition to identify the most innovative outreach and public engagement activities carried out by European Universities. Both individuals and groups were invited to apply through a competition managed online. Competition was limited to activities initiated and [...]

Whichever Estate: Exactly Right Mitt Romney has been accused of a number of gaffes, but one seems a bit unfair, as he spoke of ‘… some in the Fourth Estate, or whichever estate, who are more interested in finding something to write about …’.* Well – Candidate Romney is not the only person to wonder [...]

I’ve certainly been involved in research on the role of new information and communication technologies in shaping local and urban communities, such as with my work on Wired Cities from the late-1970s, when interactive cable communication was expected to support local and interactive communication in ways that would support community. Later I was involved with [...]

Andrea Kavanaugh from the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech will be visiting the OII on Monday 5th March and will be giving a talk between 14:00 and 15:00 in the Meeting Room at 1 St Giles. If you would like to attend, please drop an email to: events@oii.ox.ac.uk Andrea’s talk will be entitled: [...]

European Competition for Best Innovations in University Outreach and Public Engagement As part of the EC-funded ULab project, the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford is organizing an online competition to identify the most innovative outreach and public engagement activities carried out by European Universities. Both individuals and groups may apply for awards. [...]

ESRC Seminar Series: ‘Digital Policy: Connectivity, Creativity and Rights’ (RES-451-26-0849) 2011-13 ‘Digital Literacy and Self-Regulation Online: Insights for Policy’ Friday November 18 2011, University of Leicester, UK (Hosted by the Department of Media and Communication) This seminar explores different understandings and roles of digital literacy and issues of online self-regulation. It works against the background [...]

News of the launch of ParentPort should be of interest to all following communication issues, as it aims to provide an integrated, single site, to help households complain about content or material they feel is inappropriate for children, such as by helping to direct them to the appropriate regulator. This complements initiatives by the largest [...]

I worked with several colleagues at the OII (Victoria Nash, Monica Bulger, and Alissa Cooper) to pen responses to Jeremy Hunt’s Open Letter, requesting feedback of relevance to the new communications bill. They were submitted under my name as director of the OII, but also as a Co-Principal Investigator of the ESRC Seminar Series, entitled [...]

Digital Policy Issues for the New Communications Bill A Meeting to be held as part of an ESRC Seminar Series entitled ‘Digital Policy: Connectivity, Creativity and Rights‘ Location: Oxford Internet Institute (OII) Seminar Room, 1 St Giles’, Oxford Time: 10.00-16.00 on 24 June 2011 An invited group of academics and practitioners will meet at the [...]