Open Rights Group: Our first two years

Today I’m proud to be able to publish a review of the Open Rights Group’s first two years of activity, including our first year’s accounts. I hope that ORG supporters will enjoy reading how their contributions – financial, mental and physical – have collectively created an organisation that has had a demonstrable effect on UK digital rights issues. I also hope that ORG’s story so far will encourage more people to join the swelling ranks of ORG supporters.

As ORG chair Louise Ferguson writes in her foreword to the Review:

“ORG benefits from all manner of support from the many people involved in this grassroots organisation. From the individuals who support us financially or in kind, to the scores of people who keep our lively email list buzzing and those who generously volunteer their time and expertise, there are hundreds of people who contribute to ORG’s success. Our supporters and volunteers, who come from right across the political spectrum, drive our organisation, informing debates on a wide range of issues and providing amazing energy for projects and campaigns”

But today is not all about back-slapping. Now, more than ever, ORG needs your support. 2008 holds new challenges. Content industries, not satisfied with controlling your devices, are seeking to control your internet connection too. And next year will be a decisive one in the fight against the surveillance state, as political energy mounts around securing individual citizens’ rights to privacy. ORG needs to be there, speaking up for your digital rights.

So if you’re not yet supporting ORG, please start today.

If you’re not sure whether you are supporting ORG, please email me or Michael (becky AT; or michael AT openrightsgroup DOT org) and we’ll let you know. And if you are supporting ORG, please use today to spread the word about ORG to your friends and colleagues, and let them know why they should be too.

Finally, huge thanks to everyone who has made ORG’s first two years such a success – we’ve tried to namecheck as many of you as possible, but I’m sure we’ve left some people out. Here’s to building on our success, and to a bright future for our digital rights!

Update: The review is now available in html format.