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Turkey's Twitter block and propaganda be damned: revolutions will be tweeted Turkey's Twitter block and propaganda be damned: revolutions will be tweeted
(about 3 hours later)
Vladimir Putin has never been a fan of aVladimir Putin has never been a fan of a
free press or open public debates, but the Ukraine crisis has provided the Kremlinfree press or open public debates, but the Ukraine crisis has provided the Kremlin
with a new favorite target for cracking down even more harshly on politicalwith a new favorite target for cracking down even more harshly on political
expression: cyberspace. Last week, Galina Timchenko was ousted as editor of theexpression: cyberspace. Last week, Galina Timchenko was ousted as editor of the
Russian news site Lenta.ru, after publishing an interview with a right wingRussian news site Lenta.ru, after publishing an interview with a right wing
Ukrainian nationalist. She was replaced with an editor much more friendlyUkrainian nationalist. She was replaced with an editor much more friendly
toward Putin and his allies. The websites of opposition leaders Garry Kasparovtoward Putin and his allies. The websites of opposition leaders Garry Kasparov
and Alexei Navalny have also been targeted, along with other sites critical ofand Alexei Navalny have also been targeted, along with other sites critical of
the Russian president.the Russian president.
Tayyip Erdogan, the embattled Turkish prime Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the embattled Turkish prime
minister, recently pushed new censorship legislation through parliament, makingminister, recently pushed new censorship legislation through parliament, making
it easier for the government to block web content – and nowit easier for the government to block web content – and now
Twitter is restricted across the country.Twitter is restricted across the country.
Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro has blockedVenezuela’s Nicolás Maduro has blocked
websites covering topics that might be a bit uncomfortable for his government,websites covering topics that might be a bit uncomfortable for his government,
such as skyrocketing inflation and anti-government protests.such as skyrocketing inflation and anti-government protests.
World leaders may be cracking down onWorld leaders may be cracking down on
dissenting voices online – if ever there were a global trend, it’s that thedissenting voices online – if ever there were a global trend, it’s that the
revolution will be tweeted, and then restricted – but research shows thererevolution will be tweeted, and then restricted – but research shows there
are reasons to be very optimistic about the future of internet freedom.are reasons to be very optimistic about the future of internet freedom.
According to Freedom House (pdf),According to Freedom House (pdf),
24 nations have added new laws or regulations that restrict online speech since24 nations have added new laws or regulations that restrict online speech since
May 2012. Three years after the Arab Spring began in earnest, and a quarterMay 2012. Three years after the Arab Spring began in earnest, and a quarter
century after he invented the world wide web, the foundation of Tim Berners-Leecentury after he invented the world wide web, the foundation of Tim Berners-Lee
hashas
found that “targeted blocking and filtering of politically sensitive Webfound that “targeted blocking and filtering of politically sensitive Web
content by governments is also on the rise across the globe”.content by governments is also on the rise across the globe”.
Indeed, governments are becoming moreIndeed, governments are becoming more
clever about how to restrict speech in cyberspace, using laws againstclever about how to restrict speech in cyberspace, using laws against
cybercrime, blasphemy or terrorism. But in a remarkably short period of time,cybercrime, blasphemy or terrorism. But in a remarkably short period of time,
people around the world have embraced the idea of an internet free frompeople around the world have embraced the idea of an internet free from
censorship. Acensorship. A
new report here from the Pew Research Center shows that majorities in 22 ofnew report here from the Pew Research Center shows that majorities in 22 of
24 emerging and developing nations from across the globe say it is important24 emerging and developing nations from across the globe say it is important
that people have access to the internet without government censorship. Thisthat people have access to the internet without government censorship. This
includes solid majorities in Putin’s Russia (63%) and Erdogan’s Turkey (58%).includes solid majorities in Putin’s Russia (63%) and Erdogan’s Turkey (58%).
And in Maduro’s Venezuela, a stunning 89% oppose internet censorship.And in Maduro’s Venezuela, a stunning 89% oppose internet censorship.
The data also show why autocrats might haveThe data also show why autocrats might have
reason to fear open discussions in cyberspace. Internet usage, participation inreason to fear open discussions in cyberspace. Internet usage, participation in
social networking and support for internet freedom are generally more commonsocial networking and support for internet freedom are generally more common
among young people, the college educated and those with higher incomes – exactly the groups who are often at the forefrontamong young people, the college educated and those with higher incomes – exactly the groups who are often at the forefront
of protest movements and political change. For example, when Hosni Mubarak fell from power in 2011, only 23%of protest movements and political change. For example, when Hosni Mubarak fell from power in 2011, only 23%
of Egyptians said they were getting news and information about theof Egyptians said they were getting news and information about the
political situation in their country via social networking – however, amongpolitical situation in their country via social networking – however, among
college-educated Egyptians the number was 67%.college-educated Egyptians the number was 67%.
Overall, there is a strong relationshipOverall, there is a strong relationship
between internet adoption and support for internet freedom: the higher thebetween internet adoption and support for internet freedom: the higher the
percentage of people online in a given country, the greater the opposition topercentage of people online in a given country, the greater the opposition to
censorship.censorship.
Among the emerging and developing nationsAmong the emerging and developing nations
we surveyed in 2013, support for an uncensored internet is high in places likewe surveyed in 2013, support for an uncensored internet is high in places like
Chile and Argentina, where roughly two-thirds of the population goes online;Chile and Argentina, where roughly two-thirds of the population goes online;
meanwhile, it’s relatively low in countries such as Pakistan, Uganda andmeanwhile, it’s relatively low in countries such as Pakistan, Uganda and
Indonesia, where internet penetration remains limited.Indonesia, where internet penetration remains limited.
Our research shows that once people getOur research shows that once people get
access to the internet, they quickly begin incorporating it into their lives.access to the internet, they quickly begin incorporating it into their lives.
In 19 of 22 nations we polled, half or more of internet users said they goIn 19 of 22 nations we polled, half or more of internet users said they go
online daily. The data on views about censorship suggest that people not onlyonline daily. The data on views about censorship suggest that people not only
begin to include the internet in their daily lives, they also bring it into theirbegin to include the internet in their daily lives, they also bring it into their
political thinking, and make free expression on the internet a politicalpolitical thinking, and make free expression on the internet a political
priority, just like other civil liberties.priority, just like other civil liberties.
Speaking in 2010, former Secretary of StateSpeaking in 2010, former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton updated Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms by addingHillary Clinton updated Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms by adding
one for the 21st century: the freedom to connect – “the idea thatone for the 21st century: the freedom to connect – “the idea that
governments should not prevent people from connecting to the internet, togovernments should not prevent people from connecting to the internet, to
websites, or to each other. The freedom to connect is like the freedom ofwebsites, or to each other. The freedom to connect is like the freedom of
assembly in cyberspace.”assembly in cyberspace.”
It may be a while before the freedom toIt may be a while before the freedom to
connect trumps Roosevelt’s original four – freedom of expression, freedom ofconnect trumps Roosevelt’s original four – freedom of expression, freedom of
worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. But the internet has alreadyworship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. But the internet has already
become an important public gathering place, and as access spreads to more andbecome an important public gathering place, and as access spreads to more and
more people around the globe, it will become a central feature of politicsmore people around the globe, it will become a central feature of politics
nearly everywhere – not just a meme but a reality. Even Putin and Erdogan maynearly everywhere – not just a meme but a reality. Even Putin and Erdogan may
not be able to shut down sites quickly enough.not be able to shut down sites quickly enough.