The Twitterest Pill
Policing Dissent in the Information Age
Bratich, Jack Z.
http://www.counterpunch.org/bratich10092009.html
Date Written: 2009-10-09
Publisher: CounterPunch
Year Published: 2009
Resource Type: Article
Cx Number: CX11222
Who judges the legitimate and illegitimate uses of communications technology in social movements? Which networked alliances have State-sponsorship, and which ones face criminalization and State-crackdown? Social media are relying on open network access, but this openness too easily sugarcoats itself in democratic notions (participation, interactivity, freedom). At the same historic moment, we are also witnessing an expansion, integration, and refinement of sovereign police power. When the two converge we begin to see an increase in repressive intervention into, and pre-emption of, information use.
