Watch Digital Dissidents

Digital Dissidents is a documentary film directed by Cyril Tuschi, which explores the lives and ideologies of numerous activists and iconoclasts from around the globe who fight against government and corporate entities in order to protect and promote open access to information - essentially, those who work towards a free internet. The film features interviews with a number of well-known figures, including Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, and Edward Snowden, the famed whistleblower and former NSA contractor. Both Assange and Snowden live in exile and can no longer travel freely, so their presence in the documentary is especially significant.

The film also includes interviews with a number of academics and journalists, who provide context and analysis for the events and ideologies presented in the film. These experts include the likes of cybersecurity researcher Jacob Appelbaum and investigative journalist Amy Goodman.

Throughout the film, Digital Dissidents explores a number of key issues related to free speech and government surveillance.

One central question raised by the film is the role of whistleblowers in a democracy. While some may see whistleblowers as traitors who leak sensitive information, risking national security, the film argues that they play a vital role in holding governments and corporations accountable for their actions. Without whistleblowers, the public may never know about abuses of power or human rights violations committed by those in positions of authority.

Digital Dissidents also explores the role of governments in the digital age - specifically, how much control they have over the internet and the flow of information. Throughout the film, we see examples of censorship and surveillance, both by government entities and by private corporations. The film argues that this control and surveillance threatens our privacy and our basic human rights.

Another important theme of the film is the importance of free speech and open access to information. The internet has been a revolutionary tool for promoting both of these values - it allows us to connect with people all over the world and to access a wealth of knowledge and ideas. However, the film argues that as governments and corporations seek to control the flow of information online, these values are under threat.

Ultimately, Digital Dissidents is a stirring defense of free speech and an exploration of the many challenges facing those who seek to protect it. By focusing on the stories of activists and whistleblowers, the film makes the abstract issues of government surveillance, censorship, and control feel real and urgent. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in the future of the internet and the debates surrounding free speech and privacy in the digital age.

In short, Digital Dissidents is a powerful, insightful and thought-provoking documentary that provides a window into the lives of people fighting for digital freedoms in modern times. With Julian Assange and Edward Snowden at the forefront, this documentary offers viewers important insight into the challenges and obstacles that exist regarding digital freedoms and privacy. It's a wake-up call to all those who have become complacent about government surveillance and censorship in the digital age.

Digital Dissidents is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes.