U.S. Representative Lamar Smith introduced the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) on October 26, 2011; the Senate proposed a related bill, PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). SOPA's full title states that its aim is "to promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes." Opponents of the bills state that they will restrict free speech, innovation, and access to online information and proposed Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN Act).

This roundtable was part of the ExxonMobil Women and Development series, which was organized by CFR's Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Program and made possible by the generous support of ExxonMobil.

Britain's phone-hacking scandal is raising questions about the power and reach of Rupert Murdoch's media empire. For Columbia University's Nicholas Lemann, the episode proves the value of expanding public media.

In his piece for the Financial Times Magazine, Shawn Donnan discusses Google's latest venture into the world of philanthropy: Google Ideas. Described as a "think/do-tank", it either amounts to a bold attempt to stretch the boundaries of corporate social responsibility, perhaps even to rewire the entire role of business in today's world -- or, with its brief to find solutions to some of the world's most intractable problems, the ultimate expression of new tech bubble bravado.

Judith A. McHale, undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs at the U.S. Department of State, discusses the importance of harnessing new technologies to increase the dialogue with more people in more places in order to improve U.S. public diplomacy efforts.

Commerce Secretary Locke gave these remarks on June 16, 2011, at the Chamber of Commerce. He discussed the international challenges faced by the Internet Policy Task Force, which was launched to safeguard consumer privacy, improve cybersecurity, and protect intellectual property online.

Senator Patrick Leahy introduced PROTECT IP Act (Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (PIPA)) on May 12, 2011; the House introduced a similar bill, SOPA, on October 26, 2011. PIPA's goal is to prevent access to "rogue websites dedicated to the sale of infringing or counterfeit goods." Opponents of the bills state that they will restrict free speech, innovation, integrity of online infrastructure, and access to online information and proposed Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN Act).

Randall L. Stephenson, chairman and chief executive officer of AT&T, discusses the role of mobile technology as a driving force of productivity and business investment as well as AT&T's acquisition of T-Mobile.

CFR's James F. Hoge Jr. discusses with students "the world ahead"--the theme of the November/December 2010 special issue of Foreign Affairs, as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call series.

Learn more about CFR's Academic Initiative.

Joel D. Hirst discusses the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and its ambitious plan to control information across Latin America.

Google's Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen debate the global reach of technology and the implications on countries such as China and Iran.

This session was part of the Corporate Program's CEO Speaker Series.

Google's Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen debate the global reach of technology and the implications on countries such as China and Iran.

This session was part of the Corporate Program's CEO Speaker series.

Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen comment, "The technology that has allowed millions to share photos and information is fast becoming the latest tool in political activism."

Intel CEO Otellini expresses optimism for economic growth contingent upon the adoption of specific U.S. regulatory policies.

This session was part of the Corporate Program's CEO Speaker series.

The New Yorker's Malcolm Gladwell argues that Twitter and Facebook are less-than-promising tools for political revolution, regardless of hype.

Asch Harwood and John Campbell write that in Nigeria, cell phones can both be used to instigate--and anticipate--violence.

Karachi-based journalist Huma Yusuf takes a look at the turbulent history of Pakistani media, which has veered from state control to liberalization and back, depending on the government's vacillating policies.

The State Department uses social media as a tool for public relations and diplomacy.

Experts discuss how to harness new media technologies to distribute news.

This event was part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary Event and was made possible through the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

Experts discuss how to harness new media technologies to distribute news.

This event was part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary Event and was made possible through the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Ford Foundation.