The Internet is a powerful tool for people to communicate as well as cell phones and other new technologies. Lately news media outlets have focused on a fight for free speech specifically in China. Google has joined the fight for Chinese citizens by not conforming to requests by the Chinese government to filter content that is considered to be illegal in China. As google takes a stand it raises questions about how the Internet and other technologies can be used as a vessel for democracy and help oppressed nations achieve change as well as here in the US.
The Chinese government has been heavily criticized by human rights activists and free speech activists for its continual regulation on free speech. A recent article in the nytimes.com brought about the discussion that not only has China tried to crack down on Internet consumption of its citizens but has even gone as far as to screen text messages and other personal messages for content in an effort to control the forms of communication that are being used. (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/world/20text.html?ref=todayspaper)
The question is with these new technologies being used as a vessel of democratic thought and ideas is it even possible to keep the world from communicating and sharing ideas? The term "netizens" stands for citizens that actively use the Internets capabilities and social forums to pursue and promote free speech as well as open access. This concept is newly developing the idea that we can participate in ways to promote social change and awareness using the Internet as a tool to do so.
In countries that try to oppress the open access free speech availability offered by new technologies, a growing tech savvy and aware population is able to get around these obstacles. The demand for freedom of speech is so great that although the attempt is made to suppress information and ideas it is not successful in shutting the world out from its citizens. We also see that here in the US and not just abroad that the internet can be used to promote change and social awareness. During the Obama campaign part of the success of generating funds for the candidacy was done with an efficient web based promotion of his candidacy. Many have attributed his successful campaign to become President of the United States in part due to his new way of using the Internet to campaign. It was easy to find out what his platform and agenda was as well as an opportunity to donate with just one click.
Now more than ever it is important to explore how democracy and the idea of democracy is increasingly gaining strength as technologies help communications become available on a global scale. It is also equally as important to preserve the free access and freedom of speech that is provided by these technologies.
Awesome job on the blog. I especially agree with your last paragraph. It's so true that now more than ever do we need to keep free access and the freedom of speech. I think as Americans we sometimes take this for granted but with your words it should make it clear to others how and why we need to keep the 1st amendment around for others besides just us.
ReplyDeleteNice blog site Brian, You are totally accurate when it comes to politicians to use the internet like President Obama to reach out to more people for his political rhetoric and for campaign financing, too. But, during some of my research on the subject of censoring and democracy issues; I found that when Google was in a stand off with China about censorship that there was more to the story then just a conflict of the content that the Chinese government was conducting to Google and twenty of its affiliated companies: In December 2009, the Chinese government had a highly sophicated hacking attempt on more than twenty companies and email accounts that the Chinese government wanted because these people were considered political dissenters. In addition, Google's Vice president of Operations in China stated that for over a year that their employees' were be under surveilance by the Chinese government, too. My blog address is http://thefutureoftheworldwideweb.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThe Internet is definitely playing a role in helping the idea of Democracy gain strength overseas. I did find in my research what Suzanna says she found. I think Google should leave China after the hacking attempt and the fact that their government plays the clueless card.
ReplyDeleteIf there's free speech and press in a Democratic government on the physical forefront, there definitely should be the same ideals in cyberspace.
Everyone deserves the freedom of speech. Whether your an American or not. And your right, people that are unable to obtain information legally, will end up obtaining it illegally. So why not just give them the option of having that information readily available.
ReplyDelete