From Online to On the Streets

Clearly, authoritarian regimes feel they have something to fear from social networks. Internet censorship has become almost synonymous with blocking open access to sites like Twitter and Facebook; regimes either shut off access during periods of social unrest or ban certain services permanently. Reporters Without Borders, a nonprofit that advocates for international press freedom, maintains a list of the most censorship-prone nations, indicated here in blue. Some of these countries, such as Syria and Iran, have already experienced protests in which social networks have played a role, while others, such as Cuba, appear to be limiting access on general principles.
Nonetheless, in many cases protesters have been able to bypass censorship. That’s happened in Egypt and Tunisia, two countries Reporters Without Borders had previously listed as among the most restrictive.
Would the popular revolutions occurring throughout the Middle East have happened without social-networking websites? Researchers will probably be debating that question for years, but there is no doubt the social networks have proved vital to organizing mass protests and to documenting the often brutal tactics of repressive regimes, thereby galvanizing both local and global support for the revolutionaries’ cause.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build
“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”
ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it
The narrative around cheating students doesn’t tell the whole story. Meet the teachers who think generative AI could actually make learning better.
Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives
The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.
Learning to code isn’t enough
Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.