Reuters and Global Voices launch freedom of expression awards

Reuters and Global Voices have launched a new award to recognise campaigners for freedom of expression online.

The Breaking Borders Award will reward the use of online tools by individuals, campaign groups and government groups to promote and protect freedom of expression.

Prizes of $10,000 will be handed out in three categories: advocacy, which will recognise an activist or group that has used online tools to promote free expression; technology, which will rewarded the creators of a tool enabling free expression and increased access to information; and a policy prize aimed at policy makers, non-governmental organisations and government officials.

Google has also teamed up with Reuters and Global Voices for the award and will use existing YouTube channel Freedom of Expression@Google to promote the prize by asking users to share their videos on how the internet has changed how people express themselves.

"Free societies and prosperity are fundamentally based on freedom of expression, both offline and online," says David Drummond, Google's senior vice president of corporate development and chief legal officer, in a press release.

"The internet is providing once unimaginable possibilities for political participation, free exchange of information and democratic movements around the world."

The deadline for the awards is 15 February. Entrants can nominate themselves and should include a short biography and evidence of their work to the Breaking Borders website.

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