From organizing protests in Tehran to vote-swapping in Canada, social media is proving itself as an established organizing and communications tool. People use it, and often use it effectively. Naturally, some of those people are going to run afoul of the authorities they are organizing against.
Sami Ben Gharbia of Global Voices Online just launched an interesting new site: Threatened Voices.
The site also has a timeline tracking the trend of arresting bloggers over recent years.
You'll notice there's one entry for Canada. That's New Brunswick blogger Charles LeBlanc, who was arrested twice. Once he was rounded up with protestors, and again after he entered the New Brunswick legislature despite being barred from the premises.
Another Canadian blogger is in jail in Iran, and this week's episode of TVO's podcast Search Engine looks at his case:
Canadian Hossein Derakhshan brought blogging to Iran, reversed his politics, made enemies on both sides, got arrested and hasn't been heard from since- until now.
While "Hoder" remains in a Tehran prison, his brother Hamed brings news, breaking his family's silence.
the internet is probably one of the world's most powerful tools. No longer can a dictatorship form without the world knowing. No longer can the media monopolies run the entire show without words from both angles coming to light. No longer can a person be confined to one area.
The internet opens up the world as it should be. Not only does the internet promote global knowledge, but it promotes true freedom in some sense.
There are threats though, such as espionage, criminal activity, and even agencies setup to cloud large web sites (ever read the book shakedown and what the human rights department does... read the book)
also, some other good reads: http://fairwhistleblower.ca/content/nest-spies-radio-interview-author http://www.daylife.com/article/0633fpqcCad5h http://spybusters.blogspot.com/2009/09/canadas-nest-of-spies.html
there is no doubt in my mind that we are becoming infiltrated with these... especially the way our economy runs. One can sneak right into our various empires without ever being questioned. We are niave and gullible here. Its a good thing we are only 35 million people or we'd be in such a mess. 6 billion people want prosperity. Luckily, we still have resources here (for now)...
posted by jac02000 on 11 November 2009 at 4:51 PM
jac02000: We are niave and gullible here. Its a good thing we are only 35 million people or we'd be in such a mess. 6 billion people want prosperity.
Several AMENs to that one !! As for the naive and gullible part: When we arrived in Canada after escaping from Communism a typical question was: " If they persecuted you why did you not go to the police " !!! Under the Communists it was prohibited to listen to Western broadcasts on your radio. There are technical means to determine remotely what radio station one was listening to ( in the days of vacuum tube technology ) and listeners were prosecuted under Communist law and jailed. Our current immigration policy, particularly the refugee system, leaks like a sieve concerning security and keeping out "persona non grata". Political correctness rules.
posted by DieterH on 12 November 2009 at 10:58 AM
Thanks for the comments.
Make sure you check out Cory Doctorow on the show tonight. He's going to touch on some other sinister aspects of what goes on online - this time in the name copyright defense.
posted by Mike Miner
on 12 November 2009 at 4:45 PM
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Producer Mike Miner blogs about the Internet, media and culture. Follow Mike on Twitter.
The Agenda with Steve Paikin Allan Gregg in Conversation Big Ideas
Think Again
Yes, blogging can be serious business.
It is surprising to learn that there are individuals who think that they can attack totalitarian governments on the Internet and not run the risk of being incarcerated or worse. (Of course there are those who understand the risk and have the courage to state their minds.)
Young people in particular need to be warned of the dangers that may lie in casual, harsh comments, which can be traced back to them..
I have read that job seekers have been denied employment in the United States, when their year's old indiscretions were discovered out in cyber-space.
posted by Ex-T on 05 November 2009 at 11:19 PM