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Governments will start 'lashing back' as internet grows | Governments will start 'lashing back' as internet grows |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Dave Lee Technology Reporter | By Dave Lee Technology Reporter |
Governments pose the biggest threat to global innovation, a senior adviser to Hillary Clinton has warned. | Governments pose the biggest threat to global innovation, a senior adviser to Hillary Clinton has warned. |
Speaking at LeWeb London, Alec Ross said the "hierarchy of control" is being taken from those in power and onto citizens. | Speaking at LeWeb London, Alec Ross said the "hierarchy of control" is being taken from those in power and onto citizens. |
He warned that governments all over the world would start "lashing back" as this control was lost. | He warned that governments all over the world would start "lashing back" as this control was lost. |
He cited the collapse of anti-piracy legislation Sopa as a wake-up call to US politicians. | He cited the collapse of anti-piracy legislation Sopa as a wake-up call to US politicians. |
"As power is shifting from hierarchies to citizens, and networks of citizens, governments tend to feel overwhelmed," he said. | "As power is shifting from hierarchies to citizens, and networks of citizens, governments tend to feel overwhelmed," he said. |
"They feel over-run by this change. As movements accelerate; as revolutions increasingly make use of connective technologies; as pieces of legislation with massive corporate backing get shot in the head because of citizen-centered networks, what you should anticipate is a lashing back from government." | |
Sopa - the Stop Online Piracy Act - was subjected to a massive co-ordinated protest by internet users who were worried it would restrict internet freedom. | Sopa - the Stop Online Piracy Act - was subjected to a massive co-ordinated protest by internet users who were worried it would restrict internet freedom. |
Mr Ross, who is regarded as Mrs Clinton's most high-profile advisor on technology and innovation-related issues, said some US politicians had found themselves confronted by young family members over the Sopa bill. | Mr Ross, who is regarded as Mrs Clinton's most high-profile advisor on technology and innovation-related issues, said some US politicians had found themselves confronted by young family members over the Sopa bill. |
As a result, many US politicians changed their stance and chose to oppose Sopa. | As a result, many US politicians changed their stance and chose to oppose Sopa. |
He warned the conference attendees, made up mostly of developers and other technology innovators, that those in power would start to get "up in your face all the more" as a result of the Sopa fall-out. | He warned the conference attendees, made up mostly of developers and other technology innovators, that those in power would start to get "up in your face all the more" as a result of the Sopa fall-out. |
Governments would begin "seeking to control your networks, seeking to take away your internet freedom", he said. | Governments would begin "seeking to control your networks, seeking to take away your internet freedom", he said. |
His comments come as the UK government is looking to introduce laws allowing for the monitoring of internet use, including email and social networking. | His comments come as the UK government is looking to introduce laws allowing for the monitoring of internet use, including email and social networking. |
'Shifting power' | 'Shifting power' |
"There is a massive shift in geopolitical power," Mr Ross added. "It's from hierarchies, including government and big media. There's a shift in power to citizens and networks of citizens. | "There is a massive shift in geopolitical power," Mr Ross added. "It's from hierarchies, including government and big media. There's a shift in power to citizens and networks of citizens. |
"This shifting power is being enabled by connecting technologies. | "This shifting power is being enabled by connecting technologies. |
"The biggest threat to your ability to innovate comes from government, and I say that from Hillary Clinton's office in the US State Department. | "The biggest threat to your ability to innovate comes from government, and I say that from Hillary Clinton's office in the US State Department. |
Speaking of recent revolutions in Tunisia and Libya, he said that while it was becoming easier for revolutions to start and grow rapidly, social network-driven uprisings resulted in countries being left without a clear successor. | Speaking of recent revolutions in Tunisia and Libya, he said that while it was becoming easier for revolutions to start and grow rapidly, social network-driven uprisings resulted in countries being left without a clear successor. |
"There's nobody's face you're going to put on a t-shirt," he said. | "There's nobody's face you're going to put on a t-shirt," he said. |
"Instead of a single, charismatic figure inspiring the masses from on high, leadership in these revolutions looks like a web." | "Instead of a single, charismatic figure inspiring the masses from on high, leadership in these revolutions looks like a web." |
He said this presented challenges for countries trying to rebuild after uprisings, as demonstrated by the volatile political situation in Egypt. | He said this presented challenges for countries trying to rebuild after uprisings, as demonstrated by the volatile political situation in Egypt. |
"It makes it more difficult once the dictators actually get taken out. There is that gap in leadership." | "It makes it more difficult once the dictators actually get taken out. There is that gap in leadership." |
He said he believed that mobile connectivity would make it harder for repressive governments to censor their citizens. | He said he believed that mobile connectivity would make it harder for repressive governments to censor their citizens. |