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How Can We Further the Spillover Effects of Digital Networks?

20th February
2009
written by kevindonovan

As much as I know the reality is far from it, part of me always yearns for the cyberlibertarian utopia of the 1990s. Best characterized by Barlow’s Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace, the hope that the Internet and other digital connections would lead to dramatically increased freedom has not come true. In fact, there are plenty of signs that the opposite is viable.

However, reading a post on Patrick Meier’s always interesting blog, iRevolution, a little bit of hope was rekindled. Writing about the role that ICTs play in Burmese activism, Patrick notes that two researchers found that the “Bangladeshi cell phone network extends well into Burma so activists can use phones from Bangladesh to relay information.” Further, Burmese citizens with Internet access are more likely to fancy themselves activists.

While I imagine it isn’t terribly hard to jam the Bangladeshi cell network, as it stands now, the spillover effects of the Bangladeshi ether is probably a boon to activists seeking connectivity outside of the official telecommunications systems.

In what other ways could governments, NGOs and activists utilize the spillover of digital networks to assist domestic dissidents? The United States has operated Voice of America and Radio Free Asia/Europe for decades, so the precedent for sending freedom-enhancing electromagnetic waves into authoritarian areas is there. Why not do so with the Internet and cell phone networks? It could even be better than VOA because it would take away that paternalistic feel of VOA et al. and allow the Burmese to speak for and to themselves.

Tags: , , ,
Development, World Affairs
  • http://4hours.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/links-for-2009-02-20/ links for 2009-02-20 « 6 to cut, 4 to sharpen

    [...] How Can We Further the Spillover Effects of Digital Networks? – Blurring Borders A good insight into a point from my presentation at Tufts (tags: networks border information) [...]

  • http://nelson.freeculture.org Nelson

    Thanks for this post! This is extremely relevant to some papers I'm trying to write for my Telecom Policy class and my Technology, Terrorism & Nat'l Security class…. I'm still figuring exactly what the topics are going to be, but I want to write about how we can get closer to the cyberutopian ideal in the real world of today. If communications networks aren't necessarily bringing greater freedom to people, like behind the great firewall of China, then maybe we're doing something wrong, or not doing enough.

  • http://blurringborders.com Kevin D

    Hey Nelson – you might want to check out the paper I wrote on a similar topic last semester: http://www.scribd.com/doc/12599470/Freedom-Figh…

  • http://4hours.wordpress.com Mark

    Glad to hear that you found our research to be helpful in inspiring additional optimism on the potential for new technologies to make a positive impact. I would actually argue that Ms. MacKinnon would agree, though in both the cases of Burma and China, it is a constant challenge.
    While the spillover is something that we found to be an opportunity, there are still difficulties associated with it. I wouldn't discount VOA, nor say that they are paternalistic. Globally, radio is still a huge player, and is never going to be replaced by the internet. They certainly reinforce one another. VOA does not highlight ethnic voices as much as they would like to see, but do a great job of giving a connection to the outside world. Something that is encouraging if nothing else, in a place as closed off as Burma. Projects like VOA also have the benefit of being more difficult to shut down, for a variety of reasons.

    But spillover is something that we think is a large opportunity and there are other countries where mobile providers have already understood the economic benefits of supporting more “blurred borders.” We'll see if that continues or if borders become more… strongly defined.

  • http://blurringborders.com Kevin D

    Thanks for dropping by, Mark.

    I didn't mean to say _I_ think VOA is paternalistic, just that it is often seen as such abroad, and a two-way medium might be more welcome by a wider spectrum (liberals <–> nationalists).

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