John Kampfner
John Kampfner is an author, broadcaster and commentator specializing in UK politics, international affairs, media and human rights issues. He is an advisor to the European Global Networ Initiative (GNI) GNI’s European Advisor. He also serves as Advisor to Google on freedom of expression and culture.
From Sept 2008 until March 2012 he was Chief Executive of Index on Censorship, one of the world’s leading free expression organizations. In late 2009 Index launched a successful campaign to change UK libel laws. He began his career as a foreign correspondent with the Daily Telegraph, first in East Berlin where he reported on the fall of the Wall and the unification of Germany, and then in Moscow at the time of the collapse of Soviet Communism. He went on to become Chief Political Correspondent at the FT and political commentator for the BBC’s Today program.
As Editor of the New Statesman from 2005-2008, he took the magazine to 30 year circulation highs. He was the British Society of Magazine Editors Current Affairs Editor of the Year in 2006. He is the author of a number of books. His most recent book, Freedom For Sale, was launched in the UK in September 2009 and in the US in March 2010, and was published in Italian, Spanish and Russian. His previous books include the critically acclaimed and bestselling Blair’s Wars, an account of the former prime minister’s militaristic hubris. John is a regular pundit for all channels on politics and foreign affairs.
Session: Keynote: Whose Net Is It? The Struggle for the Control of the Internet.
