26 September 2013
Social media in the spotlight at conference
Photo opportunity: 4pm on Friday, 4th October at the Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill. Delegates will be available for pictures following the conclusion of the conference.
The implications of the information revolution brought about by social media will come under scrutiny at a conference at the University of Dundee next month.
"Burden or Benefit? New developments in information rights, communication and compliance" takes place on Friday, 4th October and will be jointly hosted by the University's Centre for Archive and Information Studies (CAIS) and the Centre for Freedom of Information. Speakers include some of the UK's foremost authorities on information rights and social media.
Many individuals and organisations have found themselves on the wrong side of the law as a result of their social media contributions, while questions continue to be raised about the suitability of media regulations designed for print and broadcast journalism in the age of Twitter and Facebook as the law struggles to keep up with the pace of change in the digital world.
The conference will explore developments in the enforcement and extension of information legislation, the challenges that new forms of communication bring to organisations, and the role of records management in a changing regulatory and operational environment.
Euan Semple, an expert in social media in business and author of "Organisations don't tweet - people do", will deliver a keynote speech on the changing relationship between organisations, people, information and communication.
This conference will also be the first time that the UK Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, the Scottish Information Commissioner, Rosemary Agnew, and the new Chief Executive of the National Records of Scotland, Tim Ellis, appear at the same event. Together they oversee the key pieces of legislation governing privacy and public accountability in Scotland - the Data Protection, Freedom of Information (Scotland) and Public Records (Scotland) acts.
CAIS's Alan Bell said, "Social media is fundamentally changing our relationship with records and information and is doing so at a time when organisations face increasing regulation and oversight. The situation remains fluid as each new technological breakthrough brings with it new changes to the environment that organisations operate in.
"This conference brings together some of the UK's most renowned experts in the field of information regulation to look at social media and what it means for organisations seeking to take advantage of the digital revolution whilst adhering to legislation that may pre-date the technology."
Kevin Dunion, former Scottish Information Commissioner and Honorary Professor in the University's Centre for Freedom of Information, added, "We are delighted to provide a unique opportunity to hear the views of the most important regulators of information rights affecting Scotland and the UK. Events such as this one are essential for the exchange of knowledge and opinion between regulators, practitioners and academics."
Delegates already signed up for the event include journalists, practitioners and researchers concerned with freedom of information, data protection and records and information management.
"Burden or Benefit? New developments in information rights, communication and compliance" takes place at the Dalhousie Building on Friday, 4th October. More information, including details of how to book a place at the conference, can be found at www.dundee.ac.uk/cais/UoD_CAIS_CFOI_conference__4_October_2013.pdf. Alternatively, please contact Vikki Watson on 01382 384459 or by emailing centrefoi@dundee.ac.uk
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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