Liberation Technology

Larry Diamond

Journal of Democracy, Volume 21, Number 3, July 2010, pp. 69-83 (Article)

Published by The Johns Hopkins University Press

DOI: 10.1353/jod.0.0190

For additional information about this article

http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/jod/summary/v021/21.3.diamond.html

Access Provided by Harvard University at 08/26/10 9:23PM GMT

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,ARRY $IAMOND

,ARRY $IAMOND IS SENIOR FELLOW AT THE (OOVER )NSTITUTION AND THE &REE
MAN 3POGLI )NSTITUTE FOR )NTERNATIONAL 3TUDIES DIRECTOR OF 3TANFORD 5NI
VERSITYS #ENTER ON $EMOCRACY $EVELOPMENT AND THE 2ULE OF ,AW AND
FOUNDING COEDITOR OF THE *OURNAL OF $EMOCRACY

IN -ARCH  POLICE IN 'UANGZHOU #ANTON  #HINA STOPPED  YEAR

OLD 3UN :HIGANG AND DEMANDED TO SEE HIS TEMPORARY LIVING PERMIT AND
IDENTIFICATION 7HEN HE COULD NOT PRODUCE THESE HE WAS SENT TO A DETEN
TION CENTER 4HREE DAYS LATER HE DIED IN ITS INFIRMARY 4HE CAUSE OF DEATH
WAS RECORDED AS A HEART ATTACK BUT THE AUTOPSY AUTHORIZED BY HIS PARENTS
SHOWED THAT HE HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO A BRUTAL BEATING
3UNS PARENTS TOOK HIS STORY TO THE LIBERAL NEWSPAPER .ANFANG $USHI
"AO 3OUTHERN -ETROPOLIS $AILY  AND ITS INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THAT
3UN HAD BEEN BEATEN TO DEATH IN CUSTODY !S SOON AS ITS REPORT APPEARED
ON !PRIL  NEWSPAPERS AND 7EB SITES THROUGHOUT #HINA REPUBLISHED
THE ACCOUNT ;)NTERNET= CHAT ROOMS AND BULLETIN BOARDS EXPLODED WITH OUT
RAGE AND IT QUICKLY BECAME A NATIONAL STORY 4HE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
WAS FORCED TO LAUNCH ITS OWN INVESTIGATION AND ON *UNE  IT FOUND TWELVE
PEOPLE GUILTY OF 3UNS DEATH
3UNS CASE WAS A RARE INSTANCE IN #HINA OF OFFICIAL WRONGDOING BEING
EXPOSED AND PUNISHED "UT IT HAD A MUCH WIDER AND MORE LASTING IMPACT
PROVOKING NATIONAL DEBATE ABOUT THE #USTODY AND 2EPATRIATION #2
MEASURES THAT ALLOWED THE POLICE TO DETAIN RURAL MIGRANTS TYPICALLY IN AP
PALLING CONDITIONS FOR LACKING A RESIDENCY OR TEMPORARY LIVING PERMIT )N
THE OUTRAGE FOLLOWING 3UNS DEATH NUMEROUS #HINESE CITIZENS POSTED ON
THE )NTERNET STORIES OF THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF #2 AND THE CONSTITUTION
ALITY OF THE LEGISLATION BECAME A HOTLY DEBATED TOPIC IN UNIVERSITIES !N
ONLINE PETITION ASKING THE 3TANDING #OMMITTEE OF THE .ATIONAL 0EOPLES
#ONGRESS TO REEXAMINE #2 QUICKLY GARNERED WIDESPREAD POPULAR SUP
PORT AND IN *UNE  THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD CLOSE ALL
OF THE MORE THAN EIGHT HUNDRED #2 DETENTION CENTERS

*OURNAL OF $EMOCRACY 6OLUME  .UMBER  *ULY 

r  .ATIONAL %NDOWMENT FOR $EMOCRACY AND 4HE *OHNS (OPKINS 5NIVERSITY 0RESS
 *OURNAL OF $EMOCRACY

3UNS CASE WAS SEEN AS A WATERSHEDTHE FIRST TIME THAT A PEACEFUL

OUTPOURING OF PUBLIC OPINION HAD FORCED THE #OMMUNIST #HINESE STATE TO
CHANGE A NATIONAL REGULATION "UT IT ALSO SOON BECAME THE CASE OF MUCK
RAKING EDITOR #HENG 9IZHONG WHOM LOCAL OFFICIALS JAILED ALONG WITH
THREE OF HIS COLLEAGUES IN RETALIATION FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO FERRET OUT THE
WRONGDOING THAT LED TO 3UNS DEATH 4HE LEGAL DEFENSE THAT 8U :HIYONG
MOUNTED ON BEHALF OF THE FOUR JOURNALISTS ITSELF BECAME A CAUSE CL@EBRE
!S THEIR FELLOW JOURNALISTS LAUNCHED AN UNPRECEDENTED CAMPAIGN FOR THEIR
RELEASE USING AMONG OTHER MEANS AN )NTERNET PETITION 8U ESTABLISHED A
WEBSITE THE /PEN #ONSTITUTIONAL )NITIATIVE TO POST DOCUMENTS AND LEGAL
ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE CASE !LL OF THIS REFLECTED A BURGEONING WEIQUAN
DEFEND RIGHTS MOVEMENT "UT WHILE #HENG AND HIS DEPUTY EDITOR WERE
RELEASED FROM PRISON WITHOUT CHARGE THEY LOST THEIR JOBS AND THE AUTHORI
TIES CLOSED DOWN 8US SITE 8U CONTINUED HIS WORK IN DEFENSE OF RIGHTS
UNTIL *ULY OF LAST YEAR WHEN HIS ORGANIZATION WAS SHUT DOWN AND HE WAS
ARRESTED ON POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CHARGES OF TAX EVASION
/PTIMISTS DISCERN IN THESE EVENTS A STRIKING ABILITY OF THE )NTERNET
AND OTHER FORMS OF LIBERATION TECHNOLOGYTO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS FA
CILITATE INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATION AND MOBILIZATION AND STRENGTHEN AN
EMERGENT CIVIL SOCIETY 0ESSIMISTS ARGUE THAT NOTHING IN #HINA HAS FUNDA
MENTALLY CHANGED 4HE #HINESE #OMMUNIST 0ARTY ##0 REMAINS FIRMLY
IN CONTROL AND BEYOND ACCOUNTABILITY 4HE WEIQUAN MOVEMENT HAS BEEN
CRUSHED !ND THE #HINESE STATE HAS DEVELOPED AN UNPARALLELED SYSTEM OF
DIGITAL CENSORSHIP
"OTH PERSPECTIVES HAVE MERIT ,IBERATION TECHNOLOGY ENABLES CITIZENS
TO REPORT NEWS EXPOSE WRONGDOING EXPRESS OPINIONS MOBILIZE PROTEST
MONITOR ELECTIONS SCRUTINIZE GOVERNMENT DEEPEN PARTICIPATION AND EX
PAND THE HORIZONS OF FREEDOM "UT AUTHORITARIAN STATES SUCH AS #HINA
"ELARUS AND )RAN HAVE ACQUIRED AND SHARED IMPRESSIVE TECHNICAL CAPA
BILITIES TO FILTER AND CONTROL THE )NTERNET AND TO IDENTIFY AND PUNISH DIS
SENTERS $EMOCRATS AND AUTOCRATS NOW COMPETE TO MASTER THESE TECHNOLO
GIES 5LTIMATELY HOWEVER NOT JUST TECHNOLOGY BUT POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
AND STRATEGY AND DEEP ROOTED NORMATIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FORCES WILL
DETERMINE WHO WINS THE RACE
,IBERATION TECHNOLOGY IS ANY FORM OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY )#4 THAT CAN EXPAND POLITICAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM
)N THE CONTEMPORARY ERA IT MEANS ESSENTIALLY THE MODERN INTERRELATED
FORMS OF DIGITAL )#4THE COMPUTER THE )NTERNET THE MOBILE PHONE AND
COUNTLESS INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS FOR THEM INCLUDING NEW SOCIAL MEDIA
SUCH AS &ACEBOOK AND 4WITTER $IGITAL )#4 HAS SOME EXCITING ADVANTAGES
OVER EARLIER TECHNOLOGIES 4HE )NTERNETS DECENTRALIZED CHARACTER AND ABIL
ITY ALONG WITH MOBILE PHONE NETWORKS TO REACH LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE
VERY QUICKLY ARE WELL SUITED TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING )N SHARP CONTRAST
TO RADIO AND TELEVISION THE NEW )#4S ARE TWO WAY AND EVEN MULTIWAY
FORMS OF COMMUNICATION 7ITH TOOLS SUCH AS 4WITTER A SOCIAL NETWORKING
,ARRY $IAMOND 

AND MICROBLOGGING SERVICE ALLOWING ITS USERS TO SEND AND READ MESSAGES
WITH UP TO  CHARACTERS  A USER CAN INSTANTLY REACH HUNDREDS OR EVEN
THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS 5SERS ARE THUS NOT JUST PASSIVE RECIPIENTS BUT
JOURNALISTS COMMENTATORS VIDEOGRAPHERS ENTERTAINERS AND ORGANIZERS
!LTHOUGH MOST OF THIS USE IS NOT POLITICAL THE TECHNOLOGY CAN EMPOWER
THOSE WHO WISH TO BECOME POLITICAL AND TO CHALLENGE AUTHORITARIAN RULE
)T IS TEMPTING TO THINK OF THE )NTERNET AS UNPRECEDENTED IN ITS POTENTIAL
FOR POLITICAL PROGRESS (ISTORY HOWEVER CAUTIONS AGAINST SUCH HUBRIS )N
THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY THE PRINTING PRESS REVOLUTIONIZED THE ACCUMULATION
AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ENABLING THE 2ENAISSANCE THE 0ROT
ESTANT 2EFORMATION AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION /N THESE FOUNDATIONS
MODERN DEMOCRACY EMERGED "UT THE PRINTING PRESS ALSO FACILITATED THE RISE
OF THE CENTRALIZED STATE AND PROMPTED THE MOVEMENT TOWARD CENSORSHIP
! CENTURY AND A HALF AGO THE TELEGRAPH WAS HAILED AS A TOOL TO PROMOTE
PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING 3UDDENLY THE WORLD SHRANK NEWS THAT ONCE
TOOK WEEKS TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE WORLD COULD BE CONVEYED INSTANTLY 7HAT
FOLLOWED WAS NOT PEACE AND FREEDOM BUT THE BLOODIEST CENTURY IN HUMAN
HISTORY 4ODAYS ENTHUSIASTS OF LIBERATION TECHNOLOGY COULD BE ACCUSED OF
COMMITTING THE ANALYTIC SINS OF THEIR 6ICTORIAN FOREBEARS TECHNOLOGICAL
UTOPIANISM AND CHRONOCENTRICITYTHAT IS THE EGOTISM THAT ONES OWN
GENERATION IS POISED ON THE VERY CUSP OF HISTORY
)N THE END TECHNOLOGY IS MERELY A TOOL OPEN TO BOTH NOBLE AND NE
FARIOUS PURPOSES *UST AS RADIO AND 46 COULD BE VEHICLES OF INFORMATION
PLURALISM AND RATIONAL DEBATE SO THEY COULD ALSO BE COMMANDEERED BY
TOTALITARIAN REGIMES FOR FANATICAL MOBILIZATION AND TOTAL STATE CONTROL !U
THORITARIAN STATES COULD COMMANDEER DIGITAL )#4 TO A SIMILAR EFFECT 9ET TO
THE EXTENT THAT INNOVATIVE CITIZENS CAN IMPROVE AND BETTER USE THESE TOOLS
THEY CAN BRING AUTHORITARIANISM DOWNAS IN SEVERAL CASES THEY HAVE
-OBILIZING AGAINST AUTHORITARIAN RULE REPRESENTS ONLY ONE POSSIBLE LIB
ERATING USE OF DIGITAL )#4 7ELL BEFORE MOBILIZATION FOR DEMOCRACY PEAKS
THESE TOOLS MAY HELP TO WIDEN THE PUBLIC SPHERE CREATING A MORE PLURALISTIC
AND AUTONOMOUS ARENA OF NEWS COMMENTARY AND INFORMATION 4HE NEW
)#4S ARE ALSO POWERFUL INSTRUMENTS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
DOCUMENTING AND DETERRING ABUSES OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC PROCE
DURES !ND THOUGH ) CANNOT ELABORATE HERE DIGITAL )#4 IS ALSO LIBERATING
PEOPLE FROM POVERTY AND ILL HEALTH CONVEYING TIMELY INFORMATION ABOUT
CROP PRICES FACILITATING MICROFINANCE FOR SMALL ENTREPRENEURS MAPPING
THE OUTBREAKS OF EPIDEMICS AND PUTTING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN
MORE EFFICIENT CONTACT WITH RURAL AREAS 

Malaysia: Widening the Public Sphere

! CRUCIAL PILLAR OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE IS CONTROL OF INFORMATION 4HROUGH
BLOGS THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILLION WORLDWIDE  BLOG
SITES ONLINE CHAT ROOMS AND MORE FORMAL ONLINE MEDIA THE )NTERNET PRO
 *OURNAL OF $EMOCRACY

VIDES DRAMATIC NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR PLURALIZING FLOWS OF INFORMATION AND

WIDENING THE SCOPE OF COMMENTARY DEBATE AND DISSENT
/NE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL INSTANCES OF THE LATTER TYPE IS -ALAYSIAKINI
AN ONLINE NEWSPAPER THAT HAS BECOME -ALAYSIAS PRINCIPAL ALTERNATIVE
SOURCE OF NEWS AND COMMENTARY !S &REEDOM (OUSE HAS DOCUMENTED
-ALAYSIA LACKS FREEDOM OF THE PRESS 4HE REGIME BOTH THE STATE AND THE
RULING "ARISAN .ASIONAL ;".= COALITION DOMINATES PRINT AND BROADCAST
MEDIA THROUGH DIRECT OWNERSHIP AND MONOPOLY PRACTICES 4HUS IT CAN
SHAPE WHAT -ALAYSIANS READ AND SEE AND IT CAN PUNISH CRITICAL JOURNAL
ISTS WITH DISMISSAL 2EPRESSIVE LAWS SEVERELY CONSTRAIN FREEDOM TO REPORT
PUBLISH AND BROADCAST (OWEVER AS A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING COUNTRY WITH
HIGH LITERACY -ALAYSIA HAS WITNESSED EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF )NTERNET AC
CESS AND RECENTLY BROADBAND ACCESS  FROM  PERCENT OF THE POPULATION
IN  TO  PERCENT IN  EQUAL TO 4AIWAN AND ONLY SLIGHTLY BEHIND
(ONG +ONG  4HE COMBINATION OF TIGHT GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF THE CON
VENTIONAL MEDIA WIDESPREAD )NTERNET ACCESS AND RELATIVE FREEDOM ON THE
)NTERNET CREATED AN OPENING FOR ONLINE JOURNALISM IN -ALAYSIA AND TWO
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS3TEVEN 'AN AND 0REMESH #HANDRANVENTURED
INTO IT /PPONENTS OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE SINCE THEIR STUDENT DAYS 'AN AND
#HANDRAN BECAME SEIZED DURING THE  REFORMASI PERIOD WITH THE NEED
TO REFORM THE MEDIA AND BRING INDEPENDENT NEWS AND REPORTING TO -ALAY
SIA 5SING ABOUT 53 OF THEIR OWN MONEY A TINY FRACTION OF WHAT
IT WOULD TAKE TO START A PRINT NEWSPAPER  THEY LAUNCHED -ALAYSIAKINI IN
.OVEMBER  !LMOST IMMEDIATELY THEY GAINED FAME BY EXPOSING HOW
AN ESTABLISHMENT NEWSPAPER HAD DIGITALLY CROPPED JAILED OPPOSITION LEADER
AND FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER !NWAR )BRAHIM FROM A GROUP PHOTO OF
RULING PARTY POLITICIANS
&ROM ITS INCEPTION -ALAYSIAKINI HAS WON A LOYAL AND GROWING READER
SHIP BY PROVIDING CREDIBLE INDEPENDENT REPORTING ON -ALAYSIAN POLITICS
AND GOVERNANCE !S ITS READERSHIP SOARED THAT OF THE MAINSTREAM NEWS
PAPERS FELL 3UDDENLY -ALAYSIANS WERE ABLE TO READ ABOUT SUCH LONG TA
BOO SUBJECTS AS CORRUPTION HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION
AND POLICE BRUTALITY .OW THE ONLINE PAPER POSTS IN %NGLISH ABOUT FIFTEEN
NEWS STORIES A DAY IN ADDITION TO OPINION PIECES LETTERS READERS COM
MENTS AND DAILY SATIRE IN #ARTOONKINI  PLUS TRANSLATIONS AND ORIGINAL
MATERIAL IN #HINESE -ALAY AND 4AMIL -ALAYSIAKINI REPORTS SCANDALS
THAT NO ESTABLISHMENT PAPER WOULD TOUCH SUCH AS MASSIVE COST OVERRUNS
RELATED TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AT THE COUNTRYS MAIN PORT AGENCY AND
ONGOING FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT AT THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED "ANK )SLAM
-ALAYSIA 7ITH THE REGIMES RENEWED LEGAL ASSAULT ON !NWAR )BRAHIM
-ALAYSIAKINI IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE -ALAYSIANS CAN TURN FOR INDEPEN
DENT REPORTING ON THE LEGAL PERSECUTION OF THE OPPOSITION LEADER )N *ULY
 IT BECAME -ALAYSIAS MOST VISITED NEWS SITE WITH ABOUT  MIL
LION VISITORS PER MONTH 9ET LIKE MANY ONLINE PUBLICATIONS WORLDWIDE
IT STILL STRIVES FOR FINANCIAL VIABILITY
,ARRY $IAMOND 

7HILE -ALAYSIA TODAY IS NO LESS AUTHORITARIAN THAN WHEN -ALAYSIAKINI

BEGAN PUBLISHING A DECADE AGO IT IS MORE COMPETITIVE AND POSSIBLY CLOSER
TO A DEMOCRATIC BREAKTHROUGH THAN AT ANY TIME IN THE LAST FOUR DECADES )F
A TRANSITION OCCURS IT WILL BE MAINLY DUE TO POLITICAL FACTORSTHE COALES
CENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION AND THE BLUNDERS OF AN ARROGANT REGIME
)N ADDITION ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGE IS GENERATING A BETTER EDUCATED
AND MORE DIVERSE POPULATION LESS TOLERANT OF GOVERNMENT PATERNALISM AND
CONTROL 0OLLING AND OTHER DATA SHOW THAT YOUNG -ALAYSIANS IN PARTICULAR
SUPPORT THE MORE DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION "UT IT IS HARD TO DISENTANGLE
THESE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS FROM THE EXPANSION OF THE INDEPENDENT
PUBLIC SPHERE THAT -ALAYSIAKINI HAS SPEARHEADED )N -ARCH  THE ".
MADE ITS WORST SHOWING AT THE POLLS IN HALF A CENTURY LOSING ITS TWO THIRDS
PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE INDEPENDENCE &ACILITATING
THIS WAS THE GROWING PROMINENCE OF ONLINE JOURNALISM WHICH DIMINISHED
THE MASSIVE ". ADVANTAGE IN MEDIA ACCESS AND SHOCKED THE COUNTRY BY
DOCUMENTING GROSS POLICE ABUSE OF DEMONSTRATORS PARTICULARLY THOSE OF
)NDIAN DESCENT
-ALAYSIAKINI AND ITS BRETHREN PERFORM A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC FUNC
TIONS 4HEY REPORT NEWS AND CONVEY IMAGES THAT -ALAYSIANS WOULD NOT
OTHERWISE SEE 4HEY PROVIDE AN UNCENSORED FORUM FOR COMMENTARY AND
DEBATE GIVING RISE TO A CRITICAL PUBLIC SPHERE 4HEY OFFER SPACE AND VOICE
TO THOSE WHOSE INCOME ETHNICITY OR AGE PUT THEM ON THE MARGINS OF SO
CIETY 4HEY GIVE THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION WHICH IS LARGELY SHUT OUT OF
THE ESTABLISHMENT MEDIA A CHANCE TO MAKE ITS CASE )N THE PROCESS THEY
EDUCATE -ALAYSIANS POLITICALLY AND FOSTER MORE DEMOCRATIC NORMS -ANY
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS AND )NTERNET BLOG SITES PERFORM SIMILAR FUNCTIONS IN
OTHER SEMI AUTHORITARIAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS .IGERIA AND IN EMERGING AND
ILLIBERAL DEMOCRACIES "UT IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THESE FUNCTIONS TO TAKE ROOT IN
A COUNTRY AS AUTHORITARIAN AS #HINA IS TODAY

Opening a Public Sphere in China

4HE PREVAILING ANSWER IS NO #HINAS 'REAT &IREWALL OF )NTERNET FILTER
ING AND CONTROL PREVENTS THE RISE OF AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SPHERE ONLINE
)NDEED #HINAS POLICING OF THE )NTERNET IS EXTRAORDINARY IN BOTH SCOPE AND
SOPHISTICATION #HINA NOW HAS THE WORLDS LARGEST POPULATION OF )NTERNET
USERSMORE THAN  MILLION PEOPLE A NUMBER EQUAL TO  PERCENT OF THE
POPULATION AND A SIXTEEN FOLD INCREASE SINCE THE YEAR   "UT IT ALSO
HAS THE WORLDS MOST EXTENSIVE MULTILAYERED AND SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM
FOR CENSORING MONITORING AND CONTROLLING ACTIVITIES ON THE INTERNET AND
MOBILE PHONES #ONNECTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL )NTERNET IS MONOPOLIZED
BY A HANDFUL OF STATE RUN OPERATORS HEMMED IN BY RIGID CONSTRAINTS THAT
PRODUCE IN ESSENCE A NATIONAL INTRANET CUT OFF FROM ANYTHING THAT MIGHT
CHALLENGE THE ##0S MONOPOLY ON POWER
!CCESS TO CRITICAL WEBSITES AND ONLINE REPORTING IS SYSTEMATICALLY
 *OURNAL OF $EMOCRACY

BLOCKED 'OOGLE HAS WITHDRAWN FROM #HINA IN PROTEST OF CENSORSHIP

WHILE 9OU4UBE &ACEBOOK AND "LOGSPOT AMONG OTHER WIDELY USED SITES
ARE EXTENSIVELY BLOCKED OR OBSTRUCTED #HINESE COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE
SEARCH AND NETWORKING SERVICES AGREE TO EVEN TIGHTER SELF CENSORSHIP THAN
DO INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES 7HEN PROTESTS ERUPT AS THEY DID OVER 4I
BET IN  FOR INSTANCE OR OTHER SENSITIVE POLITICAL MOMENTS APPROACH
AUTHORITIES PREEMPTIVELY CLOSE DATA CENTERS AND ONLINE FORUMS .OW THE
PARTY STATE IS ALSO TRYING TO ELIMINATE ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATION AND NET
WORKING BY REQUIRING REGISTRATION OF REAL NAMES TO BLOG OR COMMENT AND
BY TIGHTLY CONTROLLING AND MONITORING CYBERCAFS &IFTY THOUSAND )NTERNET
POLICE PROWL CYBERSPACE REMOVING HARMFUL CONTENTUSUALLY WITHIN 
TO  HOURS 3TUDENTS ARE RECRUITED TO SPY ON THEIR FELLOWS !ND THE REGIME
PAYS A QUARTER OF A MILLION ONLINE HACKS CALLED  CENTERS BECAUSE OF
THE LOW PIECE RATE THEY GET TO POST FAVORABLE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PARTY
STATE AND REPORT NEGATIVE COMMENTS
3UCH QUASI /RWELLIAN CONTROL OF CYBERSPACE IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY
HOWEVER 4HERE IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING ON
LINE AND VIA MOBILE PHONES FOR THE STATE TO MONITOR AND CENSOR IT ALL
-OREOVER #HINESE NETIZENSPARTICULARLY THE YOUNG WHO ARE GROWING
UP IMMERSED IN THIS TECHNOLOGYARE INVENTIVE DETERMINED AND CYNICAL
ABOUT OFFICIAL ORTHODOXY -ANY CONSTANTLY SEARCH FOR BETTER TECHNIQUES TO
CIRCUMVENT CYBER CENSORSHIP AND THEY QUICKLY SHARE WHAT THEY LEARN )F
MOST OF #HINAS YOUNG )NTERNET USERS ARE APOLITICAL AND CAUTIOUS THEY ARE
ALSO ALIENATED FROM POLITICAL AUTHORITY AND EAGERLY EMBRACE MODEST FORMS
OF DEFIANCE OFTEN TURNING ON WORDPLAY
2ECENTLY YOUNG #HINESE BLOGGERS HAVE INVENTED AND EXTENSIVELY
LAUDED A CARTOON CREATURE THEY CALL THE GRASS MUD HORSE THE NAME IN
#HINESE IS AN OBSCENE PUN AS A VEHICLE FOR PROTEST 4HIS MYTHICAL EQUINE
SO THE NARRATIVE GOES IS A BRAVE AND INTELLIGENT ANIMAL WHOSE HABITAT IS
THREATENED BY ENCROACHING RIVER CRABS )N #HINESE THE NAME FOR THESE
FRESHWATER CRUSTACEANS HEXIE SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE THE WORD FOR (U
*INTAOS OFFICIAL GOVERNING PHILOSOPHY OF HARMONYA LABEL THAT CRITICS
SEE AS LITTLE MORE THAN A EUPHEMISM FOR CENSORSHIP AND THE SUPPRESSION OF
CRITICISM 8IAO 1IANG EDITOR OF #HINA $IGITAL 4IMES ARGUES THAT THE GRASS
MUD HORSE

HAS BECOME AN ICON OF RESISTANCE TO CENSORSHIP 4HE EXPRESSION AND CARTOON

VIDEOS MAY SEEM LIKE A JUVENILE RESPONSE TO UNREASONABLE RULE "UT THE FACT
THAT THE VAST ONLINE POPULATION HAS JOINED THE CHORUS FROM SERIOUS SCHOL
ARS TO USUALLY POLITICALLY APATHETIC URBAN WHITE COLLAR WORKERS SHOWS HOW
STRONGLY THIS EXPRESSION RESONATES

)N ORDER TO SPREAD DEFIANCE #HINESE HAVE A GROWING ARRAY OF DIGITAL

TOOLS 4WITTER HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POTENT MEANS FOR POLITICAL AND
SOCIAL NETWORKING AND THE RAPID DISSEMINATION OF NEWS VIEWS AND WITH
ERING SATIRE /N !PRIL  AT 0EOPLES 5NIVERSITY IN "EIJING THREE HUMAN
,ARRY $IAMOND 

RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PROTESTED A SPEECH BY A WELL KNOWN ##0 PROPAGANDA OF

FICIAL 7U (AO 3HOWERING HIM WITH SMALL BILLS THEY DECLARED 7U (AO
WU MAO
7U (AO IS A FIFTY CENTER
 4WITTER FLASHED PHOTOGRAPHS OF
THE EPISODE ACROSS #HINA DELIGHTING MILLIONS OF STUDENTS WHO REVEL IN
MOCKING THE OUTMODED SUBSTANCE TORTURED LOGIC AND PAINFULLY CRUDE STYLE
OF REGIME PROPAGANDISTS
7HEN 'OOGLE ANNOUNCED IN LATE -ARCH  IT WAS WITHDRAWING ITS
ONLINE SEARCH SERVICES FROM MAINLAND #HINA AFTER FAILING TO RESOLVE ITS
CONFLICT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OVER CENSORSHIP AND CYBER ATTACKS  THE
#HINESE 4WITTER SPHERE LIT UP -ANY #HINESE WERE UPSET THAT 'OOGLE
WOULD ABANDON THEM TO THE MORE PERVASIVE CENSORSHIP OF THE #HINESE
SEARCH ENGINE ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS "AIDU  AND THEY WORRIED THAT THE
'REAT &IREWALL WOULD BLOCK OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS 'OOGLE 3CHOLAR AND
'OOGLE -APS /THERS SUSPECTED 'OOGLE OF DOING THE 53 GOVERNMENTS
BIDDING "UT THE COMPANYS DECISION PROVOKED A WAVE OF SYMPATHY AND
MOURNING SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED IN *ANUARY WHEN 'OOGLE FIRST AN
NOUNCED THAT IT WAS CONSIDERING WITHDRAWING #ITIZEN REPORTERS POSTED
CONSTANT UPDATES ON    4WITTER DOCUMENTING THE #HINESE NETIZENS WHO
ENDLESSLY OFFERED FLOWERS CARDS POEMS CANDLES AND EVEN FORMAL BOWS
IN FRONT OF THE BIG OUTDOOR SIGN 'OOGLE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE COMPANYS
OFFICES IN "EIJING 3HANGHAI AND 'UANGZHOU 3ECURITY GUARDS CHASED
THE MOURNERS AWAY DECLARING THE OFFERINGS ILLEGAL FLOWER TRIBUTES 4HE
TERM QUICKLY SPREAD IN #HINAS ONLINE FORUMS SYMBOLIZING THE SUPPRES
SION OF FREEDOM
4HE PUBLIC SPHERE IN #HINA INVOLVES MUCH MORE THAN TWEETS OF
COURSE 4HOSE OFTEN LINK TO MUCH LONGER BLOGS DISCUSSION GROUPS AND
NEWS REPORTS !ND MANY THOUGHT PROVOKING SITES ARE HARDER TO BLOCK BE
CAUSE THEIR CRITIQUES OF ##0 ORTHODOXY ARE SUBTLER ELUCIDATING DEMOCRATIC
PRINCIPLES AND GENERAL PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTS SOMETIMES WITH REFERENCE
TO #ONFUCIANISM 4AOISM AND OTHER STRAINS OF TRADITIONAL #HINESE THOUGHT
THAT THE ##0 DARES NOT BAN &ULL SCALE BLOG POSTS NOT SUBJECT TO 4WITTERS
SEVERE LENGTH LIMITS ARE FAR LIKELIER TO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT ALBEIT ART
FULLY AND EUPHEMISTICALLY  2EBECCA -AC+INNON FINDS THAT #HINAS BLOGO
SPHERE IS A MUCH MORE FREEWHEELING SPACE THAN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA
WITH CENSORSHIP VARYING WIDELY ACROSS THE FIFTEEN BLOG SERVICE PROVIDERS
THAT SHE EXAMINED 4HUS A GREAT DEAL OF POLITICALLY SENSITIVE MATERIAL
SURVIVES IN THE #HINESE BLOGOSPHERE AND CHANCES FOR SURVIVAL CAN LIKELY
BE IMPROVED WITH KNOWLEDGE AND STRATEGY
$ESPITE THE DIFFUSE CONTROLS #HINAS ACTIVISTS SEE DIGITAL TOOLS SUCH AS
4WITTER 'MAIL AND FILTRATION EVADING SOFTWARE AS ENABLING LEVELS OF COM
MUNICATION NETWORKING AND PUBLISHING THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNIMAG
INABLE IN #HINA TODAY 7ITH THE AID OF LIBERATION TECHNOLOGY DISSIDENT
INTELLECTUALS HAVE GONE FROM BEING A LOOSE ASSORTMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH
NO SPECIFIC GOAL OR PROGRAM TO FORMING A VIBRANT AND INCREASINGLY VISIBLE
COLLABORATIVE FORCE 4HEIR GROUNDBREAKING MANIFESTO#HARTER  A CALL
 *OURNAL OF $EMOCRACY

FOR NINETEEN REFORMS TO ACHIEVE LIBERTIES DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW
IN #HINAGARNERED MOST OF ITS SIGNATURES THROUGH THE AID OF BLOG SITES
SUCH AS BULLOGCN 7HEN #HARTER  WAS RELEASED ONLINE ON  $ECEMBER
 WITH THE SIGNATURES OF MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED #HINESE INTELLECTU
ALS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS THE GOVERNMENT QUICKLY MOVED TO SUPPRESS
ALL MENTION OF IT "UT THEN SOMETHING UNUSUAL HAPPENED /RDINARY PEO
PLE SUCH AS 4ANG ;8IAOZHAO= WITH NO HISTORY OF CHALLENGING THE GOVERN
MENT BEGAN TO CIRCULATE THE DOCUMENT AND DECLARE THEMSELVES SUPPORTERS
SHEDDING THEIR PREVIOUS FEAR 7ITHIN A MONTH MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND
OTHER #HINESE CITIZENS HAD SIGNED THE DOCUMENT 4HEY INCLUDED NOT JUST
THE USUAL DISSIDENTS BUT SCHOLARS JOURNALISTS COMPUTER TECHNICIANS BUSI
NESSMEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WHOSE NAMES HAD NOT BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH
SUCH MOVEMENTS BEFORE AS WELL AS SOME ON THE LOWER RUNGS OF #HINAS
SOCIAL HIERARCHYFACTORY AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND FARMERS
/FFICIALS SHUT DOWN 4ANGS BLOG SOON AFTER SHE SIGNED THE #HARTER AND
DID THE SAME TO COUNTLESS OTHER BLOGS THAT SUPPORTED IT INCLUDING THE ENTIRE
BULLOGCN SITE  "UT THE CAMPAIGN PERSISTS IN UNDERGROUND SALONS ELLIPTICAL
REFERENCES AND SUBVERSIVE JOKES SPREAD VIRALLY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND
INSTANT MESSAGING /NE SUCH JOKE IMAGINES A TESTY #HINESE PRESIDENT (U
*INTAO COMPLAINING ABOUT THE #HARTERS DEMOCRATIC CONCEPTS SUCH AS FED
ERALISM OPPOSITION PARTIES AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION 7HERE DO THEY
ALL COME FROM HE DEMANDS (IS MINIONS RUN DOWN THE SOURCES AND BRING
HIM THE BAD NEWS 4HE TROUBLESOME NOTIONS CAN BE TRACED TO -AO :EDONG
:HOU %NLAI THE ##0 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER THE 8INHUA $AILY  AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE 0EOPLES 2EPUBLIC ITSELF ! FLUSTERED (U WONDERS WHAT
TO DO (IS STAFF SUGGESTS BANNING ALL MENTION OF THESE NAMES 9OU IDI
OTS
SHOUTS (U )F YOU BAN THEM YOU MIGHT AS WELL BAN ME TOO
7ELL
HIS STAFF RETORTS 0EOPLE DO SAY THAT IF THEY BAN YOU AT LEAST THE #HARTER
WILL BE LEFT ALONE

Monitoring Governance Exposing Abuses

,IBERATION TECHNOLOGY IS ALSO ACCOUNTABILITY TECHNOLOGY IN THAT IT PRO
VIDES EFFICIENT AND POWERFUL TOOLS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND MONITORING $IGITAL
CAMERAS COMBINED WITH SITES SUCH AS 9OU4UBE CREATE NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR
EXPOSING AND CHALLENGING ABUSES OF POWER )NCIDENTS OF POLICE BRUTALITY
HAVE BEEN FILMED ON CELLPHONE CAMERAS AND POSTED TO 9OU4UBE AND OTHER
SITES AFTER WHICH BLOGGERS HAVE CALLED OUTRAGED PUBLIC ATTENTION TO THEM
%NTER HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES INTO 9OU4UBES SEARCH BOX AND YOU WILL GET
ROUGHLY TEN THOUSAND VIDEOS SHOWING EVERYTHING FROM COTTON GROWERS
WORKING CONDITIONS IN 5ZBEKISTAN TO MINING PRACTICES IN THE 0HILIPPINES
TO HUMAN ORGAN HARVESTING IN #HINA TO THE PERSECUTION OF "AHS IN )RAN
! 9OU4UBE VIDEO OF A YOUNG -ALAYSIAN WOMAN FORCED BY THE POLICE TO DO
SQUATS WHILE NAKED FORCED THE COUNTRYS PRIME MINISTER TO CALL FOR AN INDE
PENDENT INQUIRY 7HEN 6ENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (UGO #HVEZ FORCED 2ADIO
,ARRY $IAMOND 

#ARACAS 4ELEVISION OFF THE AIR IN -AY  IT CONTINUED ITS BROADCASTS VIA
9OU4UBE .O WONDER THEN THAT AUTHORITARIAN STATES SUCH AS )RAN AND 3AUDI
!RABIA COMPLETELY BLOCK ACCESS TO THAT VIDEO POSTING SITE
!CROSS MUCH OF THE WORLD AND ESPECIALLY IN !FRICA THE QUEST FOR AC
COUNTABILITY MAKES USE OF THE SIMPLEST FORM OF LIBERATION TECHNOLOGY TEXT
MESSAGING VIA MOBILE PHONE -OBILE PHONE NETWORKS HAVE PROVEN PARTIC
ULARLY USEFUL IN INFRASTRUCTURE STARVED !FRICA SINCE THEY CAN COVER VAST AREAS
WITHOUT REQUIRING MUCH IN THE WAY OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES BEYOND SOME CELL
TOWERS !ROUND THE WORLD THE REACH AND CAPABILITIES OF CELLPHONES ARE BE
ING DRAMATICALLY EXPANDED BY OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE SUCH AS &RONTLINE3-3
WHICH ENABLES LARGE SCALE TWO WAY TEXT MESSAGING PURELY VIA MOBILE
PHONES )N RECENT YEARS THE SOFTWARE HAS BEEN USED OVER MOBILE PHONE
NETWORKS TO MONITOR NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN .IGERIA AND 'HANA TO FACILI
TATE RAPID REPORTING OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN %GYPT TO INFORM CITIZENS
ABOUT ANTICORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN 3ENEGAL AND TO MONITOR
AND REPORT CIVIL UNREST IN 0AKISTAN ! +ENYAN ORGANIZATION 5SHAHIDI 3WA
HILI FOR TESTIMONY  HAS ADAPTED THE SOFTWARE FOR CRISIS MAPPING 4HIS
ALLOWS ANYONE TO SUBMIT CRISIS INFORMATION THROUGH TEXT MESSAGING USING A
MOBILE PHONE E MAIL OR ONLINE CONTACT FORM AND THEN AGGREGATES THE IN
FORMATION AND PROJECTS IT ONTO A MAP IN REAL TIME )T WAS INITIALLY DEVELOPED
BY CITIZEN JOURNALISTS TO MAP REPORTS OF POSTELECTION VIOLENCE IN +ENYA IN
EARLY  DRAWING SOME  +ENYAN USERS )T HAS SINCE BEEN USED TO
REPORT INCIDENTS OF XENOPHOBIC VIOLENCE IN 3OUTH !FRICA TO TRACK VIOLENCE
AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE $EMOCRATIC 2EPUBLIC OF #ONGO AND TO
MONITOR ELECTIONS IN !FGHANISTAN )NDIA ,EBANON AND -EXICO
4HE LARGEST FUNDER OF BOTH 5SHAHIDI AND &RONTLINE3-3 IS THE /MIDYAR
.ETWORK /.  A PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT FIRM ESTABLISHED SIX YEARS AGO
BY E"AY FOUNDER 0IERRE /MIDYAR AND HIS WIFE 0AM )T EXTENDS INTO THE
WORLDS OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INNOVATION THE E"AY APPROACH GIVING EVERY
ONE EQUAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THE POTENTIAL
OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE POWER OF MARKETS 4HIS INNOVATIVE EFFORTWHICH
COMPRISES BOTH A VENTURE CAPITAL FUND DIRECTED AT FOR PROFIT START UPS AND
A NONPROFIT GRANT MAKING FUNDHAS COMMITTED MORE THAN  MILLION
IN INVESTMENTS AND GRANTS IN TWO BROAD AREAS ACCESS TO CAPITAL MICRO
FINANCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PROPERTY RIGHTS  AND MEDIA MARKETS AND
TRANSPARENCY WHICH SUPPORTS TECHNOLOGY THAT PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRUST ACROSS MEDIA MARKETS AND GOVERNMENT  4HE
/. SUPPORTS NATIONAL PARTNERS IN .IGERIA 'HANA AND +ENYA THAT ARE US
ING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE GOVERNANCE AND FREE EXPRESSION
4HESE INCLUDE )NFONETA WEB PORTAL THAT PROVIDES CITIZENS MEDIA AND
.'/S WITH EASY TO ACCESS INFORMATION ON NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
BUDGETS IN +ENYAAND -ZALENDO A COMPREHENSIVE SITE THAT ENABLES +E
NYANS TO FOLLOW WHAT THEIR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ARE DOING
4HE /.S SUPPORT FOR TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVES ALSO EXTENDS TO OTHER
COUNTRIES AND TO 53 BASED ORGANIZATIONS 4HESE INCLUDE 'LOBAL )NTEGRITY
 *OURNAL OF $EMOCRACY

WHICH HARNESSES THE )NTERNET AND OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION IN ORDER TO

GENERATE DETAILED ASSESSMENTS OF CORRUPTION IN MORE THAN NINETY COUNTRIES
AND THE 3UNLIGHT &OUNDATION WHICH UTILIZES THE )NTERNET AND RELATED TECH
NOLOGY IN ORDER TO MAKE INFORMATION ABOUT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING
LEGISLATION AND DECISION MAKING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO 53 VOTERS

Mobilizing Digitally
/NE OF THE MOST DIRECT POWERFUL ANDTO AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES
ALARMING EFFECTS OF THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION HAS BEEN ITS FACILITATION OF FAST
LARGE SCALE POPULAR MOBILIZATIONS #ELLPHONES WITH 3-3 TEXT MESSAGING
HAVE MADE POSSIBLE WHAT TECHNOLOGY GURU (OWARD 2HEINGOLD CALLS SMART
MOBSVAST NETWORKS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO COMMUNICATE RAPIDLY AND WITH
LITTLE HIERARCHY OR CENTRAL DIRECTION IN ORDER TO GATHER OR SWARM AT A CER
TAIN LOCATION FOR THE SAKE OF PROTEST )N *ANUARY  0HILIPPINE PRESIDENT
*OSEPH %STRADA BECAME THE FIRST HEAD OF STATE IN HISTORY TO LOSE POWER TO
A SMART MOB WHEN TENS OF THOUSANDS AND THEN WITHIN FOUR DAYS MORE
THAN A MILLION DIGITALLY MOBILIZED &ILIPINOS ASSEMBLED AT A HISTORIC PROTEST
SITE IN -ANILA 3INCE THEN LIBERATION TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL
IN VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TURNED OUT EN MASSE FOR
DEMOCRACY OR POLITICAL REFORM
,IBERATION TECHNOLOGY FIGURED PROMINENTLY IN THE /RANGE 2EVOLUTION
THAT TOPPLED THE ELECTORAL AUTHORITARIAN REGIME IN 5KRAINE VIA MASS PROTESTS
DURING .OVEMBER AND $ECEMBER  4HE )NTERNET NEWSPAPER 5KRAINS
KAYA 0RAVDA PROVIDED A VITAL SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT BOTH
THE REGIMES EFFORTS TO STEAL THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE OPPOSITIONS
ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT "Y THE REVOLUTIONS END THIS ONLINE PAPER HAD BECOME
THE MOST WIDELY READ NEWS SOURCE OF ANY KIND IN 5KRAINE 7EBSITE
DISCUSSION BOARDS GAVE ACTIVISTS A VENUE FOR DOCUMENTING FRAUD AND SHAR
ING BEST PRACTICES 4EXT MESSAGING HELPED TO MOBILIZE AND COORDINATE
THE MASSIVE PUBLIC PROTESTSBRINGING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO +YIVS
)NDEPENDENCE 3QUARE IN FREEZING WEATHERTHAT ULTIMATELY FORCED A NEW
RUNOFF WON BY THE DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION
4HESE DIGITAL TOOLS ALSO FACILITATED THE  #EDAR 2EVOLUTION IN ,EBA
NON WHICH DREW MORE THAN A MILLION DEMONSTRATORS TO DEMAND THE WITH
DRAWAL OF 3YRIAN TROOPS  THE  PROTESTS FOR WOMENS VOTING RIGHTS IN
+UWAIT THE  PROTESTS BY 6ENEZUELAN STUDENTS AGAINST THE CLOSURE OF
2ADIO #ARACAS 4ELEVISION AND THE !PRIL  GENERAL STRIKE IN %GYPT
WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG DEMONSTRATORS MOBILIZED THROUGH &ACE
BOOK )N 3EPTEMBER  THE )NTERNET CAMERA PHONES AND OTHER DIGITAL
NETWORKED TECHNOLOGIES PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN "URMAS 3AFFRON 2EVO
LUTION SO CALLED BECAUSE OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF THOUSANDS OF "UDDHIST
MONKS !LTHOUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY DID LITTLE DIRECTLY TO MOBILIZE THE
PROTESTS IT VIVIDLY INFORMED THE WORLD OF THEM AND REVEALED THE BLOODY
CRACKDOWN THAT THE GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED IN RESPONSE "URMESE CITIZENS
,ARRY $IAMOND 

TOOK PICTURES AND VIDEOS MANY ON THEIR MOBILE PHONES AND SECRETLY UP
LOADED THEM FROM )NTERNET CAFES OR SENT DIGITAL FILES ACROSS THE BORDER TO
BE UPLOADED 4HIS INTERNATIONAL VISIBILITY MAY HAVE SAVED MANY LIVES BY
INHIBITING THE MILITARY FROM USING FORCE AS WIDELY AND BRUTALLY AS IT HAD
IN 
)N #HINA PERVASIVE TEXT MESSAGING HAS BEEN A KEY FACTOR IN THE
MUSHROOMING OF GRASSROOTS PROTESTS )N  AN ERUPTION OF HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF CELLPHONE TEXT MESSAGES IN 8IAMEN A CITY ON THE 4AI
WAN 3TRAIT GENERATED SO MUCH PUBLIC DISMAY AT THE BUILDING OF AN EN
VIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL PLANT THAT AUTHORITIES SUSPENDED THE
PROJECT 4HE IMPACT OF THE TEXT MESSAGES WAS MAGNIFIED AND SPREAD
NATIONALLY AS BLOGGERS IN OTHER #HINESE CITIES RECEIVED THEM AND QUICKLY
FANNED THE OUTRAGE 4HE TECHNOLOGY IS EVEN SEEPING INTO .ORTH +OREA
THE WORLDS MOST CLOSED SOCIETY AS .ORTH +OREAN DEFECTORS AND 3OUTH
+OREAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ENTICE .ORTH +OREANS TO CARRY THE PHONES
BACK HOME WITH THEM FROM #HINA AND THEN USE THEM TO REPORT WHAT
IS HAPPENING VIA THE #HINESE MOBILE NETWORK  )N THE OIL RICH 'ULF
STATES TEXT MESSAGING ALLOWS CIVIC ACTIVISTS AND POLITICAL OPPOSITIONISTS
TO BUILD UNOFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP LISTS SPREAD NEWS ABOUT DETAINED ACTIV
ISTS ENCOURAGE VOTER TURNOUT SCHEDULE MEETINGS AND RALLIES AND DEVELOP
NEW ISSUE CAMPAIGNSALL WHILE AVOIDING GOVERNMENT CENSORED NEWS
PAPERS TELEVISION STATIONS AND 7EB SITES
4HE MOST DRAMATIC RECENT INSTANCE OF DIGITAL MOBILIZATION WAS )RANS
'REEN -OVEMENT FOLLOWING THE EGREGIOUS ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES THAT
APPEARED TO ROB OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE -IR (OSEIN -USAVI
OF VICTORY ON  *UNE  )N THE PRECEDING YEARS )RANS ONLINE PUB
LIC SPHERE HAD BEEN GROWING DRAMATICALLY AS EVIDENCED BY ITS MORE
THAN  ROUTINELY UPDATED BLOGS EXPLORING A WIDE RANGE OF SO
CIAL CULTURAL RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL ISSUES THE EXPLOSION OF &ACEBOOK
TO ENCOMPASS AN ESTIMATED  0ERSIAN LANGUAGE USERS AND THE
GROWING UTILIZATION OF THE )NTERNET BY NEWS ORGANIZATIONS CIVIC GROUPS
POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES
!S INCUMBENT PRESIDENT -AHMOUD !HMEDINEJADS ELECTION VICTORY WAS
ANNOUNCED COMPLETE WITH CLAIMS OF A  PERCENT LANDSLIDE ON *UNE 
OUTRAGED ACCOUNTS OF VOTE FRAUD SPREAD RAPIDLY VIA )NTERNET CHATROOMS
BLOGS AND SOCIAL NETWORKS 4HROUGH 4WITTER TEXT MESSAGING &ACEBOOK
AND 0ERSIAN LANGUAGE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES SUCH AS "ALATARIN AND $ON
BLEH )RANIANS QUICKLY SPREAD NEWS OPINIONS AND CALLS FOR DEMONSTRATIONS
/N *UNE  -USAVI SUPPORTERS USED 4WITTER TO ATTRACT TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS TO A RALLY IN DOWNTOWN 4EHRAN )NTERNET USERS OR
GANIZED NATIONWIDE PROTESTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH INCLUDING MORE LARGE
DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CAPITAL SOME APPARENTLY ATTENDED BY TWO TO THREE
MILLION PEOPLE 9OU4UBE ALSO PROVIDED A SPACE TO POST PICTURES AND VIDEOS
OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWNS !  SECOND VIDEO
OF THE DEATH OF .EDA !GHA 3OLTAN DURING 4EHRANS VIOLENT PROTESTS ON
 *OURNAL OF $EMOCRACY

*UNE  QUICKLY SPREAD ACROSS THE )NTERNET AS DID OTHER IMAGES OF THE PO
LICE AND REGIME THUGS BEATING PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS .EDAS DEATH AND
THE DISTRESSING IMAGES OF WANTON BRUTALITY DECIMATED THE REMAINING LEGITI
MACY OF THE )SLAMIC 2EPUBLIC DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY
4O DATE THE 'REEN -OVEMENT ILLUSTRATES BOTH THE POTENTIAL AND LIMITS
OF LIBERATION TECHNOLOGY 3O FAR THE )SLAMIC 2EPUBLICS REACTIONARY ES
TABLISHMENT HAS CLUNG TO POWER THROUGH ITS CONTROL OVER THE INSTRUMENTS
OF COERCION AND ITS WILLINGNESS TO WIELD THEM WITH MURDEROUS RESOLVE
$IGITAL TECHNOLOGY COULD NOT STOP BULLETS AND CLUBS IN  AND IT HAS NOT
PREVENTED THE RAPE TORTURE AND EXECUTION OF MANY PROTESTORS "UT IT HAS
VIVIDLY DOCUMENTED THESE ABUSES ALIENATING KEY PILLARS OF THE REGIMES
SUPPORT BASE INCLUDING LARGE SEGMENTS OF THE 3HIA CLERGY 7HILE THE RE
GIME HAS TORTURED DISSIDENTS TO GET THEIR E MAIL PASSWORDS AND ROUND UP
MORE OPPONENTS THE )NTERNET HAS FOSTERED CIVIC AND POLITICAL PLURALISM IN
)RAN LINKED THE OPPOSITION WITHIN THAT COUNTRY TO THE )RANIAN DIASPORA AND
OTHER GLOBAL COMMUNITIES AND GENERATED THE CONSCIOUSNESS KNOWLEDGE
AND MOBILIZATIONAL CAPACITY THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BRING DOWN AUTOCRACY IN
)RAN ! KEY FACTOR AFFECTING WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN WILL BE THE ABILITY OF
)RANIANS TO COMMUNICATE MORE FREELY AND SECURELY ONLINE

Breaking Down the Walls

%VEN IN THE FREEST ENVIRONMENTS THE NEW DIGITAL MEANS OF INFORMA
TION AND COMMUNICATION HAVE IMPORTANT LIMITS AND COSTS 4HERE ARE FINE
LINES BETWEEN PLURALISM AND CACOPHONY BETWEEN ADVOCACY AND INTOLER
ANCE AND BETWEEN THE EXPANSION OF THE PUBLIC SPHERE AND ITS HOPELESS
FRAGMENTATION !S THE SHEER NUMBER OF MEDIA PORTALS HAS MULTIPLIED
MORE VOICES HAVE BECOME EMPOWERED BUT THEY ARE HARDLY ALL RATIONAL
AND CIVIL 4HE PROLIFERATION OF ONLINE AND CABLE MEDIA HAS NOT UNI
FORMLY IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC DELIBERATION BUT RATHER HAS GIVEN
RISE TO AN ECHO CHAMBER OF THE IDEOLOGICALLY LIKE MINDED EGGING EACH
OTHER ON !ND OPEN ACCESS FACILITATES MUCH WORSE HATE MONGERING POR
NOGRAPHY TERRORISM DIGITAL CRIME ONLINE ESPIONAGE AND CYBERWARFARE
4HESE ARE REAL CHALLENGES AND THEY REQUIRE CAREFUL ANALYSISPRIOR TO
REGULATION AND LEGISLATIONTO DETERMINE HOW DEMOCRACIES CAN BALANCE
THE GREAT POSSIBILITIES FOR EXPANDING HUMAN FREEDOM KNOWLEDGE AND
CAPACITY WITH THE DANGERS THAT THESE TECHNOLOGIES MAY POSE FOR INDI
VIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE SECURITY ALIKE
3TILL THE OVERRIDING CHALLENGE FOR THE DIGITAL WORLD REMAINS FREEDOM OF
ACCESS 4HE USE OF )NTERNET FILTERING AND SURVEILLANCE BY UNDEMOCRATIC RE
GIMES IS BECOMING BOTH MORE WIDESPREAD AND MORE SOPHISTICATED !ND
SOME LESS SOPHISTICATED EFFORTS USING COMMERCIAL FILTERING SOFTWARE MAY
BLOCK SITES EVEN MORE INDISCRIMINATELY #URRENTLY MORE THAN THREE DOZEN
STATES FILTER THE )NTERNET OR COMPLETELY DENY THEIR CITIZENS ACCESS %NTER
PRISING USERS CAN AVAIL THEMSELVES OF MANY CIRCUMVENTION TECHNOLOGIES
,ARRY $IAMOND 

BUT SOME REQUIRE INSTALLATION OF SOFTWARE AND SO WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE IF THE
)NTERNET IS ACCESSED FROM PUBLIC COMPUTERS OR )NTERNET CAFES MANY OF THE
7EB BASED APPLICATIONS ARE BLOCKED BY THE SAME FILTERS THAT BLOCK POLITICAL
LY SENSITIVE SITES AND MOST OF THESE MEANS REQUIRE SOME DEGREE OF TECHNICAL
COMPETENCE BY THE USER .OT ALL CIRCUMVENTION METHODS PROTECT NETIZENS
PRIVACY AND ANONYMITY WHICH CAN BE A PARTICULARLY ACUTE PROBLEM WHEN
STATE RUN COMPANIES PROVIDE THE )NTERNET SERVICE 4HE FREE SOFTWARE 4OR
POPULAR AMONG )RANIANS PROMISES ANONYMITY BY REDIRECTING ENCRYPTED
TRAFFIC THROUGH MULTIPLE RELAYS    AROUND THE WORLD MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR
A REGIME TO INTERCEPT A TRANSMISSION "UT IF IT EFFECTIVELY MONOPOLIZES THE
PROVISION OF )NTERNET SERVICE A DESPERATE REGIME SUCH AS "URMAS IN 
CAN ALWAYS RESPOND BY SHUTTING DOWN THE COUNTRYS )NTERNET SERVICE OR AS
)RANS GOVERNMENT DID BY SLOWING SERVICE TO A PARALYZING CRAWL WHILE AU
THORITIES SEARCHED ELECTRONIC DATA TRAFFIC FOR PROTEST RELATED CONTENT
%VEN IN LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES ISSUES OF ACCESS ARISE 2ECENTLY NETIZENS
WORLDWIDEAND THE 53 GOVERNMENTHAVE BECOME CONCERNED OVER EX
CESSIVELY BROAD LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS IN !USTRALIA THAT WOULD FORCE )NTER
NET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO BLACKLIST A LARGE NUMBER OF SITES FOR LEGAL AND
MORAL CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDING THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN  4HE #HINESE
PRACTICE OF FORCING )NTERNET PROVIDERS TO ASSUME LIABILITY FOR THE CONTENT TO
WHICH THEY PROVIDE ACCESS IS SEEPING INTO %UROPEAN LEGAL AND REGULATORY
THINKING REGARDING THE )NTERNET
4HERE IS NOW A TECHNOLOGICAL RACE UNDERWAY BETWEEN DEMOCRATS SEEK
ING TO CIRCUMVENT )NTERNET CENSORSHIP AND DICTATORSHIPS THAT WANT TO EXTEND
AND REFINE IT 2ECENTLY DICTATORSHIPS SUCH AS )RANS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT
GAINS IN REPRESSION )N PART THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE 7ESTERN COMPANIES
LIKE .OKIA 3IEMENS ARE WILLING TO SELL THEM ADVANCED SURVEILLANCE AND
FILTERING TECHNOLOGIES )N PART IT HAS ALSO BEEN THE WORK OF DICTATORSHIPS
THAT EAGERLY SHARE THEIR WORST PRACTICES WITH ONE ANOTHER ! HOST OF NEW
CIRCUMVENTION TECHNOLOGIES ARE COMING ONTO THE MARKET AND MILLIONS OF
#HINESE 6IETNAMESE )RANIANS 4UNISIANS AND OTHERS FERVENTLY WANT AC
CESS TO THEM 2ICH LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES NEED TO DO MUCH MORE TO SUPPORT
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH TECHNOLOGIES AND TO FACILITATE AND SUBSIDIZE
THEIR CHEAP AND SAFE DISSEMINATION TO COUNTRIES WHERE THE )NTERNET IS SUP
PRESSED -ORE COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE ENCRYPTION SO THAT PEOPLE IN AU
THORITARIAN REGIMES CAN MORE SAFELY COMMUNICATE AND ORGANIZE ONLINE
"REAKTHROUGHS MAY ALSO COME WITH THE EXPANSION OF SATELLITE ACCESS THAT
BYPASSES NATIONAL SYSTEMS IF THE COST OF THE SATELLITE DISHES AND MONTHLY
USAGE RATES CAN BE REDUCED DRAMATICALLY 7ESTERN GOVERNMENTS CAN HELP
BY BANNING THE EXPORT OF ADVANCED FILTERING AND SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES
TO REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS AND BY STANDING BEHIND 7ESTERN TECHNOLOGY
COMPANIES WHEN DICTATORSHIPS PRESSURE THEM TO HAND OVER )NTERNET USERS
PERSONAL DATA !ND FINALLY LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES SHOULD STAND UP FOR THE
HUMAN RIGHTS OF BLOGGERS ACTIVISTS AND JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN AR
RESTED FOR PEACEFULLY REPORTING NETWORKING AND ORGANIZING ONLINE
 *OURNAL OF $EMOCRACY

)T IS IMPORTANT FOR THE 5NITED 3TATES TO HAVE DECLARED AS 3ECRETARY OF

3TATE (ILLARY #LINTON DID IN A HISTORIC SPEECH ON *ANUARY  THAT 7E STAND
FOR A SINGLE )NTERNET WHERE ALL OF HUMANITY HAS EQUAL ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
AND IDEAS "UT THE STRUGGLE FOR ELECTRONIC ACCESS IS REALLY JUST THE TIME
LESS STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM BY NEW MEANS )T IS NOT TECHNOLOGY BUT PEOPLE
ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS THAT WILL DETERMINE WHO PREVAILS

./4%3

4HE AUTHOR THANKS !NNA $AVIES "LAKE -ILLER AND !STASIA -YERS FOR THEIR TRULY SUPERB
RESEARCH ASSISTANCE ON THIS ARTICLE AND ALSO ,IAN -ATIAS 'ALEN 0ANGER 4UCKER (ERBERT
2YAN $ELANEY $ANIEL (OLLEB 3AMPATH *INADASA AND !ARON 1AYUMI FOR THEIR PRIOR RESEARCH
ASSISTANCE ON THIS PROJECT

 3OPHIE "EACH 4HE 2ISE OF 2IGHTS #HINA $IGITAL 4IMES HTTPCHINADIGITALTIMES

NETRISE OF RIGHTS

 9ONGNIAN :HENG 4ECHNOLOGICAL %MPOWERMENT 4HE )NTERNET 3TATE AND 3OCIETY IN

#HINA 3TANFORD 3TANFORD 5NIVERSITY 0RESS   

 )THIEL DE 3OLA 0OOL 4ECHNOLOGIES OF &REEDOM #AMBRIDGE -ASS "ELKNAP 0RESS

  

 4OM 3TANDAGE 4HE 6ICTORIAN )NTERNET .EW 9ORK "ERKLEY    

 &OR VARIOUS ACCOUNTS SEE HTTPFSISTANFORDEDURESEARCHPROGRAM?ON?LIBERATION?

TECHNOLOGY

 4HIS ACCOUNT DRAWS HEAVILY FROM A STUDENT RESEARCH PAPER CONDUCTED UNDER MY SU
PERVISION !STASIA -YERS -ALAYSIAKINI )NTERNET *OURNALISM AND $EMOCRACY 3TANFORD
5NIVERSITY  *UNE 

 &IGURES ON THE GROWTH OF 7EB USE IN -ALAYSIA AND #HINA ARE AVAILABLE AT WWWINTER
NETWORLDSTATSCOMSTATSHTM

 &REEDOM (OUSE &REEDOM ON THE .ET ! 'LOBAL !SSESSMENT OF )NTERNET AND $IGITAL
-EDIA  !PRIL   AVAILABLE AT WWWFREEDOMHOUSEORG

 0RIVATE EMAIL MESSAGE FROM 8IAO 1IANG -AY  1UOTED WITH PERMISSION

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LINE  *ANUARY  AVAILABLE AT WWWUPIASIACOM0OLITICSCHINESE?FORBID
DEN?FROM?PRESENTING?FLOWERS?TO?GOOGLE

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INDEXPHPFMARTICLEVIEW 3EE ALSO !SHLEY %SAREY AND 8IAO 1IANG "ELOW THE
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TOBER   

 !RIANA %UNJUNG #HA )N #HINA A 'RASS 2OOTS 2EBELLION 7ASHINGTON 0OST 
*ANUARY 

 #HARTER  3TILL !LIVE IN THE #HINESE "LOGOSPHERE #HINA $IGITAL 4IMES  &EBRU
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