RSA Animate - The Internet in Society: Empowering or Censoring Citizens?

[Robb]

Run time: 10:59 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk8x3V-sUgU   Posted on YouTube: March 14, 2011 By YouTube Member: theRSAorg Views on YouTube: 68708   Posted on DU: March 23, 2011 By DU Member: Robb Views on DU: 396

 
Does the internet actually inhibit, not encourage democracy? In this new RSA Animate, Evgeny Morozov presents an alternative take on 'cyber-utopianism' - the seductive idea that the internet plays a largely emancipatory role in global politics.

Exposing some idealistic myths about freedom and technology (during Iran's 'twitter revolution' fewer than 20,000 Twitter users actually took part), Evgeny argues for some realism about the actual uses and abuses of the internet.

[aSpeckofDust]

1. That was a good watch, thank you.

[Charleston Chew]

2. Kick & Recommend

I am unable to understand all the points being made. But I do understand the general concern / question.
__________

__________
Egypt's Facebook Face Off
July 07, 2008

For over 27 years President Mubarak has ruled with an iron fist. With protests sweeping across Egypt, activists are finding new ways to fight for democracy, finding a voice through Facebook.

"They are terrified of Facebook - it is something they can't control", says one activist, who was arrested at the April 6 strike. One campaign organised via Facebook saw thousands refusing to work and hundreds campaigning on the streets. Ahmad Mehr, the creator of the Facebook-led strike was eventually arrested. "Just for the password they took my trousers off. He said "We can rape you, we can put a stick in". Yet filming their protests using mobile phones and uploading them to the internet has inspired other, bolder political attacks from Egypt's youth. As tens of thousands gather in Egypt to protest against their current President, the internet is lending strength to their calls for change, and spreading their message globally: "everyone should be interested in politics".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x550381

[Robb]

3. Thanks. Notably, Evgeny gave this talk in 2009. (nt)