Firewalls to Freedom

To block popular dissent over policies, governments no longer simply rely on censorship, particularly the imperfect filters devised for the internet. Instead governments of all stripes master the art of spin – emphasizing certain topics and casting their own frame for any issue. Citizens who support government positions can tout policies and quickly blast doubters, as evident prior to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Governments that seek to control internet chatter may look to Russia for an example: “Having established full control of traditional media, the Kremlin is now moving full-speed into the virtual world,” write Rebecca MacKinnon and Evgeny Morozov in an essay for Project Syndicate. “The authorities’ strategy is not new: establish tight control over the leading publishing platforms and fill them with propaganda and spin to shape online public opinion.” Governments have the power and influence to unleash polished campaigns or even massive cyber attacks on the small numbers of dissenters who have the courage to question policy. The long-time challenge of addressing minority rights in democratic and authoritarian governments alike will not automatically vanish in the age of the internet. – YaleGlobal