Rapid Response Network (RRN)

The Rapid Response Network (RRN) is an initiative from the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) that is aimed towards ensuring that rights of expression, communication, association and protest on the internet are protected. More specifically, to enable people and organisations to use information and communications technologies for social justice and equality.

APC has long been concerned with trends that show that such rights are being violated. As one response, some APC members and partners, have decided to act as a “Rapid Response Network” (RRN). Members of this network have the ability to rapidly mirror a threatened website throughout the world, and raise awareness about the issues involved.

The past version of APC RRN has been effective in protecting content in danger of being blocked and taken down by governments and corporations. However, the current landscape of the World Wide Web has changed and continued to change. In the last five years, web sites from all over the world has changed from static, HTML pages to database driven, dynamic spaces. The development of easy to install and use content management systems (CMS) as well as the development of new forms of web applications and services (blogs, wikis) have contributed to the growth of dynamic websites.

Due to this change, APC is currently working on re-designing the RRN network in such a way that it would address above mentioned challenges in the landscape of online publishing.

For more information, write to karel-at-apc.org

Image by Jun used under Creative Commons license.