When you hear that Twitter or mobile phones are essential for democracy and that they give a chance to Iranian or Burmese or Cuban or Zimbabwean "tyranny fighters", give yourself a moment and think about the persons using such a chance and the ways they use it. By the way, some examples of that can be found at not so distant places: the scenario described was frequently used at the post-Soviet space, and last time it was Chisinau, 2009.
IT

Originally Posted by Russie1912

When you hear that Twitter or mobile phones are essential for democracy and that they give a chance to Iranian or Burmese or Cuban or Zimbabwean "tyranny fighters", give yourself a moment and think about the persons using such a chance and the ways they use it. By the way, some examples of that can be found at not so distant places: the scenario described was frequently used at the post-Soviet space, and last time it was Chisinau, 2009.
IT

There's a potential downside to such instant communications in some more totalitarian states though, especially if the authorities realise that Twitter, Facebook and the like are being used to relay information they don't want the outside world to see. It could result in reprisals being taken against individuals using these services, or a blocking of both internet and mobile phone services to the country, resulting in even more isolation and speculation about what really goes on. On balance they're very positive of course, but just as long as people do realise that for every positive, there's also a negative.