An Audience with...

Austin Heap is a wunderkind hacker who used his own encryption software, Haystack, to open up the Iranian internet in the aftermath of the disputed elections in 2009. By breaking through the Iranian government’s blockade, the software allowed people on the ground in Tehran to access communication tools they could use to describe unfolding events to the rest of the world.

Personal surveillance has reached an all-time high: our web traffic is observed and recorded by governments and corporations. With every click we create personal digital identities that ‘belong’ to other people. Should we be worried about the private becoming public in this way, or should we reclaim ourselves using encryption software that hides who we are and where we go online? NO2ID's Christine Zaba will be on hand to lead you through the issues and the options.

This is an evening to debate the new dawn that’s rising over international public diplomacy and personal privacy. What are your concerns? Ask our experts. Submit your questions to talk@danacentre.org.uk The evening will be recorded live for the Guardian’s ‘Tech Weekly’ podcast.

Speakers:

Austin Heap, entrepreneur, technologist and online activist, Censorship Research Center
Christina Zaba, NO2ID

Facilitator:

Aleks Krotoski, Tech Weekly, The Guardian

Event organised by: The Science Museum, curated by Aleks Krotoski and sponsored by Nintendo

Talking on twitter about the event, please use the hashtag, #danacentre.

This event is part of DigiFest