Further supplementary written evidence
from the BBC World Service
RE: US STATE DEPARTMENT FUNDING OF CIRCUMVENTION
TECHNOLOGY
DIGITAL SAFETY
PROPOSAL
Following Peter Horrocks' comments at the FAC hearing
on 9 March on circumvention technology, and articles in the Guardian
on a possible funding deal with the US state department on 20
and 22 March, please find below details of the proposal and clarification
on the BBC's involvement:
BBC World Service Trust, the BBC's independent international
development charity, is developing a proposal to enable audiences
across the world to access and engage with digital platforms safely
and effectively whilst being informed of the risks and opportunities
involved.
BBC World Service Trust is not in receipt of funds
from the US State Department for this work. It has however applied
through an open and competitive tender process to US State Department
for project funding in this area, the outcome of which will not
be known for several months. Digital safety is an area of growing
importance to audiences around the world and the US State Department
is one of a number of potential funders that the World Service
Trust is approaching.
The World Service Trust is constantly innovating
and currently has multiple proposals in development being actively
considered by a wide range of donor sources. Some of these are
delivered in partnership with Global News and in particular with
World Service.
23 March 2011
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