ORGCon is the UK's biggest digital and human rights event. High profile writers, speakers and activists give their insights into the big issues affecting civil liberties and the Internet. It's also a place for Open Rights Group members, activists and anyone who is interested in human rights and technology to come together to participate in great discussions and sessions. There are four thematic focuses for the event this year, they are: digital privacy, censorship & the role of algorithms, mass surveillance, and data & democracy.

ORGCon is where friendships are forged, where we all learn from each other and amazing conversations are had about how we can all make the Internet and the world a better place. ORGCon will have speakers, panels, discussions, debates, art installations, design challenges, podcast recordings, workshops and lightning talks.

Book Tickets Here. There are discounted tickets for Open Rights Group members (those who give a regular donation), and free tickets are available to new members who sign up during the next two months. Please join us!

There is a cafe serving teas, coffees and food. You can also bring your own snacks and water. There are many other cafes and restaurants near Friends House.

Full details on accessibility are on the Friends House Website. Information about access to buses, tubes, rail links and taxis is available from www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/1167.aspx. The website www.disabledgo.com also provides useful information about accessibility in London, for potential hotels, restaurants and other places to visit whilst you are in London.

Open Rights Group is dedicated to creating an environment at ORGCon where people with an interest in digital rights can come together, learn from each other, and contribute their skills, ideas and energy. All attendees agree to abide by the anti-harassment policy. We reserve the right to refuse entry.

You are welcome to photograph and share the event. We love to see people capturing all the exciting stuff happening at ORGCon. However, if you are photographing people, please ask permission of the person you're photographing beforehand and respect their wishes. If you'd like to share your photographs with us after the event please tag them as ORGCon2019 on Flickr, or let us know about them. We love to see your perspective on the event! If you'd like to film ORGCon, please let us know if advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements.

Please email press@openrightsgroup.org with your name, your news organisation, whether you'll be recording or taking photographs, and your particular areas of interest. If you're interested in interviewing specific guests, or filming the event, please let us know about that as well and we'll see what we can arrange.

Absolutely. We'd love to have your help, whether you can volunteer with ticketing, filming sessions or tech support. If you can help out on the day, please let us know, by emailing volunteers@openrightsgroup.org and giving your name and where you'd like to help out.

If you recently became a member of ORG and have lost the details of how to register for a free ticket, or haven't received them. Please email supporters@openrightsgroup.org and we will look into it for you.

Yes we would be delighted to hear from you. If you are interested in sponsoring ORGCon 2019 please email martha@openrightsgroup.org.

Open Rights Group is dedicated to creating an environment where people with an interest in our  issues and work can come together, learn from each other, and contribute their skills, ideas and energy. Everyone is entitled to enjoy a respectful and inclusive environment. We will not tolerate harassment behaviour that detracts from that goal. We prioritise the creation of an inclusive work environment and this extends to and includes events we hold.

Who does this policy apply to?

We expect everyone at an ORG venue or participating in the event to adhere to the spirit and the letter of this policy. That includes attendees, speakers, workshop facilitators, panel guests, staff, exhibitors, press, photographers, videographers, bloggers, volunteers, sponsors, our venue hosts and the security team.

How to help create pleasant and safe environment

• Be aware of the kind of environment you are creating around you with your speech, actions and behaviour.
• Read and abide by this harassment policy.
• Support other event attendees - if you see someone being harassed or appearing uncomfortable, ask if they're okay.
• Report incidents of harassment to ORG staff or volunteers immediately.
• Be excellent to each other - and party on!

What is harassment?

• Offensive verbal comments, including about gender, gender identity and expression, sexuality, impairment, physical appearance, body size, race, religion or political affiliation.
• Showing sexual images in public spaces.
• Intimidation, stalking or following.
• Photographing or recording someone without their permission.
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
• Uninvited physical contact.
• Uninvited sexual attention.
• Any other unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual's dignity or creating an interrogating, degrading, hostile, offensive or humiliating environment for the person in question.

This list is not exhaustive.

What to do if you experience or witness harassment?

If you experience harassment, are not comfortable confronting a harasser, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact an ORG volunteer or a member of the event staff as soon as possible.

In some cases you may find the harassment stops if you clearly say “no” or “please leave me alone”, or walk away. We would appreciate it if a member of staff were still informed to help us identify any repeat offenders.

How will ORG respond to reports of harassment?

Volunteers and Open Rights Group staff are the most visible first-line of support for those who experience harassment. They'll note down the details of what has happened, and make sure it is  reported to Open Rights Group management as soon as  possible.

Event staff will be happy to help participants contact venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. If a participant engages in harassing behaviour, event staff may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expelling them from the conference, with no refund.

Incidents of harassment during an event will be recorded and shared between event staff and volunteers. This is so we can spot and challenge patterns of unwanted behaviour or repeat offenders.

After the event, all reported incidents of harassment will be reviewed by the Open Rights Group Board. Details of incidents that were resolved satisfactorily, did not recur, or were minor will be discarded. Details of repeat or serious transgressions may be retained by Open Rights Group for as long as the Board deems them relevant and used to restrict admission by those responsible to future Open Rights Group events.

We hope this strikes the right balance between our strong privacy and data protection principles and our desire to prevent harassment at our events.

Why do we have this policy?

We want everyone here to have a great time and we won't tolerate behaviour that detracts from that goal. Spelling out exactly what we expect and deserve in our behaviour towards one another helps to reduce harassment and gives us a framework within which to respond should anyone's behaviour fall short. We want people to feel comfortable at our event and to be confident that we will act to protect the fun and inclusive atmosphere we want everyone to experience.

If your question isn't here, and you want to know more, please email supporters@openrightsgroup.org