Internet and Democracy: Difference between revisions
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== Class Discussion == | == Class Discussion == | ||
I thought the article on the many-to-many communication in Kenya was very interesting. While I think that it speaks to some important shifts in avenues of control, I don't know that I agree with the author's general conclusion that the shift to many-to-many is a positive thing in periods of humanitarian crisis. While moderate voices were able to counteract violent ones in this particular circumstance, I feel that in a future similar situation, the lessons learned from this conflict would better prepare the more violent elements to get their own message out. I could see something as simple as the uploading of bogus data into the mashups, or more complex moves such as hacking the more popular forums. In effect, there may be something of a digital arms race rather than a solution. I think this is one of those conversations without a definitive conclusion, but I would be interested in others thoughts. - Mgladney | |||
== Today's Links == | == Today's Links == | ||
Revision as of 16:27, 20 April 2010
Tonight's class will take place again on this etherpad.
Despite rapid growth and extended efforts on the part of international organizations, development agencies, and private investors to reach a broader audience, the vast majority of the world does not have effective Internet access. Alternatively, mobile telephones continue to proliferate, and already boast twice the users. Have we made any progress, is the future mobile, and what has come of the World Summit on the Information Society?
Readings
The Internet and Government At Odds
- Bruce Etling and John Kelly, Mapping Iran's Online Public, available here.
The Internet and Civic Crisis
- Josh Goldstein and Juliana Rotich, Digitally Networked Technology in Kenya's 2007-2008 Post-Election Crisis, available here.
Additional Resources
- Etling, Kelly, Faris, Palfrey Mapping the Arabic Blogosphere
- Faris, Etling, Madison and the Smart Mob: The Promise and Limitations of the Internet for Democracy
- Ushahidi
- Rosling on Development
- Martus
- Infodev
- Statistics
- ITU stats
- ITU-D
- ITU's expensive publication
- Global Voices
- Bridges.org's Real Access / Real Impact criteria for ICT access
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Additional Resources From Class/Discussion
NYT story about new media in Indonesia
Class Discussion
I thought the article on the many-to-many communication in Kenya was very interesting. While I think that it speaks to some important shifts in avenues of control, I don't know that I agree with the author's general conclusion that the shift to many-to-many is a positive thing in periods of humanitarian crisis. While moderate voices were able to counteract violent ones in this particular circumstance, I feel that in a future similar situation, the lessons learned from this conflict would better prepare the more violent elements to get their own message out. I could see something as simple as the uploading of bogus data into the mashups, or more complex moves such as hacking the more popular forums. In effect, there may be something of a digital arms race rather than a solution. I think this is one of those conversations without a definitive conclusion, but I would be interested in others thoughts. - Mgladney
Today's Links
House Bill to establish the Internet Freedom Foundation
-Hnhagni 22:04, 30 March 2010 (UTC)