Open Rights Group
A UK digital-rights organisation that campaigns to protect privacy, free expression, access to knowledge and civil liberties in the digital environment.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Open Rights Group (ORG) is a United Kingdom-based digital-rights advocacy organisation focused on protecting civil liberties and democratic freedoms in the context of networked technology. It combines policy campaigning, public-interest research, parliamentary engagement, legal and regulatory commentary, and grassroots organising. Rather than selling consumer products, ORG operates as a campaigning and membership-supported organisation whose public-facing work seeks to influence legislation, government policy, technology governance and public understanding. The organisation emerged from discussions among technologists, writers, researchers and activists at the Open Tech 2005 event. Danny O'Brien created a PledgeBank commitment in July 2005 proposing that supporters contribute £5 per month to establish a permanent UK organisation campaigning for digital rights. The pledge reached its target of 1,000 participants in November 2005, after which ORG was launched at a public meeting in Soho, London. Its founding group included Danny O'Brien, Cory Doctorow, Ian Brown, Rufus Pollock, James Cronin, Stefan Magdalinski, Louise Ferguson and Suw Charman. ORG's remit spans several connected areas. In privacy and surveillance, it has addressed communications-data retention, identity systems, automatic vehicle tracking, biometric and DNA databases, radio-frequency identification, medical-data systems and broader forms of state or corporate monitoring. In free expression, it has opposed internet filtering and censorship measures and has argued for protections for online anonymity, parody and lawful speech. In copyright and access to knowledge, it has engaged with digital-rights management, software patents, Creative Commons, the public domain, Crown copyright and free and open-source software. It has also taken positions on electronic voting, freedom-of-information law, net neutrality and the governance of online platforms. The group has contributed evidence and submissions to parliamentary and policy processes, including the All Party Internet Group's inquiry into digital rights management and the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property. In 2010, it worked with the campaigning organisation 38 Degrees against the Digital Economy Bill, which became the Digital Economy Act 2010. ORG has also criticised online filtering and later proposals associated with the Online Safety Bill, particularly where it considers that safety obligations could weaken free expression, privacy or online anonymity. It has challenged proposals to make cookie tracking and online surveillance easier by moving toward an opt-out model. Public recognition has included a joint honour in Privacy International's 2008 Big Brother Awards, alongside other civil-liberties groups. ORG has also developed community infrastructure through local groups, supporter mobilisation and ORGCON, described as an early UK conference dedicated specifically to digital rights. ORGCON began in 2010 and was held again in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019; the 2019 event featured Edward Snowden as keynote speaker. The organisation has had paid staff and has been led by executive director Jim Killock, with former executive directors including Suw Charman-Anderson and Becky Hogge. Its supporters numbered more than 43,000 by October 2022, according to the referenced material.
History
Open Rights Group was formed in the United Kingdom in the aftermath of a panel discussion at the Open Tech 2005 event. The founding effort brought together digital-rights advocates from technology, journalism, academia and civil society, including Danny O'Brien, Cory Doctorow, Ian Brown, Rufus Pollock, James Cronin, Stefan Magdalinski, Louise Ferguson and Suw Charman. O'Brien proposed a recurring-support pledge through PledgeBank on 23 July 2005. The pledge required 1,000 people to commit to a monthly contribution of £5 before a permanent organisation would be established. It reached the target on 29 November 2005, and ORG subsequently launched at a well-attended meeting in Soho, London. From its beginning, ORG developed as a UK campaign group rather than a commercial technology company. Its work has focused on the effects of digital systems on liberty, participation and access to information. Early policy activity included submissions to the All Party Internet Group inquiry into digital-rights management and to the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property. These interventions reflected the organisation's interest in copyright, software patents, Creative Commons, open-source software, the public domain, Crown copyright and the ability of citizens to access and reuse knowledge. Privacy and surveillance became another major strand of the organisation's work. ORG has addressed communications-data retention, identity management, automatic vehicle tracking, RFID systems, police DNA records and proposals involving NHS patient data. It has also campaigned against internet filtering and censorship, while defending online anonymity, lawful parody and freedom of expression. Related interests include electronic voting, freedom-of-information legislation and net neutrality. The common theme is scrutiny of systems that can concentrate informational power in government agencies or large corporations without adequate transparency, accountability or public consent. In 2008, Privacy International recognised ORG in its Big Brother Awards alongside No2ID, Liberty, GeneWatch UK and other organisations for work opposing state and corporate mass surveillance. In 2010, ORG collaborated with 38 Degrees in opposition to the Digital Economy Bill. Although the legislation was enacted as the Digital Economy Act 2010, the campaign established ORG as a prominent public voice in UK debates about copyright enforcement, internet access and due process. ORG continued to intervene in debates about online regulation. It criticised parts of the draft Online Safety Bill introduced in 2021 where it considered that proposed duties could create excessive restrictions on speech or weaken anonymity. It also objected to a proposed shift toward an opt-out cookie framework, describing the change as likely to normalise online tracking. These positions illustrate ORG's recurring approach: it generally accepts the legitimacy of public-interest regulation but argues that measures should be proportionate, technically sound, transparent and consistent with privacy and free-expression rights. Alongside formal policy work, the organisation has cultivated a supporter and activist community. It has maintained paid staff, organised grassroots campaigns and operated as a membership- and supporter-oriented civil-society body. ORGCON, launched in 2010, was presented as a UK digital-rights conference and crash course for people seeking to understand the field. It was held in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019, with speakers drawn from politics, civil liberties organisations and technology advocacy. Edward Snowden gave the keynote at the 2019 event. By October 2022, the organisation was reported to have more than 43,000 supporters. Jim Killock is identified as executive director, while Suw Charman-Anderson and Becky Hogge are identified as former executive directors. The organisation's former staff and collaborators also included e-voting coordinator Jason Kitcat, campaigner Peter Bradwell, grassroots campaigner Katie Sutton and administrator Katerina Maniadaki. Neil Gaiman previously served as a patron.
- 2022
Supporter base exceeds 43,000
[1]The organisation was reported to have more than 43,000 supporters by October 2022.
- 2019
Edward Snowden gives ORGCON keynote
[1]Edward Snowden delivered the keynote address at the 2019 ORGCON event.
- 2010
Digital Economy Act campaign
[1]ORG worked with 38 Degrees to oppose the Digital Economy Bill, which became the Digital Economy Act 2010.
- 2010
First ORGCON conference
[1]ORG held the first edition of ORGCON, a UK conference focused on digital rights.
- 2008
Recognised in the Big Brother Awards
[1]Privacy International honoured ORG jointly with other civil-liberties organisations for work challenging mass surveillance.
- 2005
Founding pledge reaches its target
[1]A PledgeBank commitment to create a UK digital-rights organisation reached 1,000 supporters, enabling the Open Rights Group to be established.
- 2005
Open Rights Group launches
[1]ORG was publicly launched at a meeting in Soho, London, following the Open Tech 2005 discussions.
Products and positioning
An independent UK civil-society advocate for digital rights, combining policy expertise with grassroots activism to defend privacy, free expression, access to knowledge and democratic accountability.
Conference · 2010
ORGCON
ORGCON is the Open Rights Group's digital-rights conference and public education programme. It brings together campaigners, policymakers, civil-liberties organisations, technology specialists and members of the public to discuss privacy, surveillance, censorship, copyright and online regulation. The event began in 2010 and was held in several later years, including 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Online Safety Bill scrutiny
United Kingdom
ORG opposed elements of the draft Online Safety Bill that it viewed as risks to free speech and online anonymity.
Outcome. The organisation continued public-policy advocacy and criticism of the proposed measures.
- 2010Digital Economy Act opposition
United Kingdom
ORG worked with 38 Degrees to oppose the introduction of the Digital Economy Bill, raising concerns about copyright enforcement, internet access and procedural safeguards.
Outcome. The legislation passed in April 2010 as the Digital Economy Act 2010.
- Opt-out cookie model opposition
United Kingdom
ORG criticised a proposal to make cookie consent and related online tracking operate on an opt-out basis, arguing that this could make surveillance the default.
Brand decisions
2021
Oppose restrictive elements of the Online Safety BillStrategyBackground
ORG considered that some proposed online-safety duties could infringe free expression and reduce online anonymity.
Action taken
The organisation publicly opposed the relevant provisions and continued policy advocacy on the bill.
2010
Join campaign against the Digital Economy BillStrategyBackground
The proposed legislation raised concerns for ORG about copyright enforcement, internet access and the protection of due process in the digital environment.
Action taken
ORG partnered with 38 Degrees to campaign against the bill.
Aftermath
The bill was enacted in April 2010 as the Digital Economy Act 2010.
Sources1 sources
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