June 29, 2009
PdF 2009 Conference Kicks Off Today
The 2009 Personal Democracy Forum Conference has begun. Find out what the movers and shakers in the field of politics and technology are saying.
The Personal Democracy Forum is a two day conference covering the intersection of technology and politics in New York city at Jazz Lincoln Center (Broadway and 60th St.).
This morning, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave a keynote address on government and technology that can be seen here. Follow the Conference on Twitter with the hashtag #pdf09 or #pdf2009. The PdF has a Flickr account here.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 01:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 24, 2009
Political Sex Scandal...Online Mistakes Repeated
Emails have surfaced that Gov. Mark Sanford sent to his mistress in Argentina.
During the press conference Wednesday, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford gave a hearfelt confession of his whereabouts for the past week. You guessed it...Argentina with his mistress. Sanford admitted today that he's been having an affair with a woman he visited on a secret trip to Argentina and said he'll resign as head of the Republican Governors Association.
Here is the video of Gov. Sanford's press conference:
The Impeach Mark Sanford Facebook group has gained 162 members since the story broke, bringing the group's total to almost 5,000 members. The scandal is all over Twitter and South Carolina's local paper, the State, has just printed exclusive emails from Sanford to a woman in Argentina.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 23, 2009
Iran's Complex Content-Tracking
The Iranian government has gone far beyond blocking access to Web sites or breaking Internet connections, "building online-content inspection on a national scale and coordinated at a single location."
With assistance of European telecommunications companies, the Iranian government has developed "one of the world's most sophisticated mechanisms for controlling and censoring the Internet." In an attempt to censor its people, the Iranian government has been tracking the content of individual online communications through a practive called deep packet inspections.
According to the WSJ, "Deep packet inspection involves inserting equipment into a flow of online data, from emails and Internet phone calls to images and messages on social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Every digitized packet of online data is deconstructed, examined for keywords and reconstructed within milliseconds. In Iran's case, this is done for the entire country at a single choke point, according to networking engineers familiar with the country's system."
Reports from Iranian Internet users saying that the Internet is running at less than a tenth the speed it usually does may be a sign of the government's use of deep packet inspections. Without an increase in processing power, the online data filtering system would lead to drastic delays in online transmission.
Blocking websites is no longer a viable option for censoring its people since videos like the one of a young Iranian woman named Neda can be sent out online and posted by multiple users outiside of Iran. Repressive regimes, such as the one in Iran, the scanning of messsage by message from a central "monitoring center" has allowed the government to to choke the flow of information and the use of deep packet inspections, which enable authorities to not only block communication but to "monitor it to gather information about individuals, as well as alter it for disinformation purposes."
Iran's Web Spying Aided By Western Technology
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June 22, 2009
Iran Online - Graphic Imagery Further Stirs Unrest
Neda, the young Iranian woman shot over the weekend during protests in Iran, has heightened the rallying cry from the opposition.
The coverage from Iran continues to pour in from citizen journalists filming and uploading videos online. The video of the shooting and killing of 26 year old Neda Agha-Soltan was uploaded on YouTube and Facebook Saturday with the following explanation:
Basij shots to death a young woman in Tehran’s Saturday June 20th protests At 19:05 June 20th Place: Karekar Ave., at the corner crossing Khosravi St. and Salehi st. A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim’s chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes. The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St. The film is shot by my friend who was standing beside me. Please let the world know.
Individuals posting the video say the woman was shot by a member of the pro-government Basij militia, but that has not been verified by reporters due to the barring of foreign news organizations by the Iranian Government and the fact that the government has not acknowledged the death.
According to the wikipedia page, "The graphic videos were posted on the Internet, and her name quickly became a rallying cry for the opposition.Neda means "voice" or "calling" in Persian, and she has been referred to as the "voice of Iran" and "a symbol of pro-democracy protesters battering the Islamic regime" in the world."
According to NBC, although less than a minute long, the footage appears to capture the woman's death moments after she was shot at a protest and is "a powerful example of citizens' ability to document events inside Iran despite government restrictions on foreign media and Internet and phone lines."
Twitter and Facebook have been used to organize Iranian citizens in an effort to commemorate Neda Soltani. On Facebook, demonstrators were asked by to gather in the center of of the Iranian capital at 4:00 pm local time and Twitter entries announced that Neda Soltani was buried at the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, and denied a public funeral by government authorities.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 19, 2009
Online Revolutions: A Glimpse of the Future in Iran?
Key ingredients came together in Iran to further demonstrate what's required for a 'successful' formula for online political activism.
For several years now, the Internet and new technology has been planning an important role in various people-powered 'revolutions' around the world. However, not since Obama's campaign have we seen the Internet and new technology play such a large political role as in Iran today.
- Success in the Past - During the 2005 presidential elections, Iranian reformers used SMS messages and blogs to send information about rallies and campaign updates. Although they had little success, the reformist bloggers who actively followed the elections online came from the ranks of Iran's opinion- makers and intellectuals. In 2005, blogging crated a different information ecology with new types of pre- election news that was then available and the election seemed, according to one Iranian blogger, to be "much more transparent".
- A Well- educated, Tech-savvy Young Populous - Various student led movement have been fighting for democracy and freedom in Iran for years. Their desire for such basic rights such as free expression of opinion and an open press and media stirred similar uprisings in 1999 and 2003. In essence, these were test runs among students of a larger tech fuel movement that has moved to a wider population in today's protest.
- Limited Success by a Repressive Regime - According to the Open Net Initiative, "Since 2000-in the midst of a media crackdown that has seen the judiciary close more than 100 publications, inspiring widespread self-censorship-the Islamic Republic of Iran has installed one of the most extensive technical filtering systems in the world." Despite the enduring threat of government censorship and imprisonment of journalists and activists, online activists have managed to find a way around this technology of oppression. With proxy servers, code hacking and other techniques, the protesters have managed to avoid a complete shut down of traffic that could have choked off their ability to communicate.
- Twitter and New Tools - The use of Twitter may well have been the breakthrough technology in Iran. Used more extensively than every before, mobile technology and micro-blogging site Twitter has been the technology of choice used to organize street protests. Twitter has been used to report on real-time events with pictures, videos, statements and first- hand accounts not being shown by the state-owned media. Tehran was become the Twitter capital of the world. It importance was evidenced in a front page NY Times story of how a 2/? year old State Department employee asked Twitter to defer shutting down for a brief period for scheduled upgrades so the demonstrators would not loose this important communications tool.
Every tech powered 'revolution' is different - but they are all learning from each other and some basic patterns and strategies are emerging. Iran is another giant leap forward.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 16, 2009
Twitter's Role In The Iranian Revolution
The State Department asked Twitter to postpone a scheduled site maintenance that would have shutdown the most powerful communication tool for protesters in Iran.
Twitter has brought the eyes and ears of the International community upon the recent protests over the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. The ability to resonate an idea, meeting place or message around the world is what makes Twitter a simple and effective tool for protesters.
Twitter has recognized the role that hold in the global political playing field; the San Francisco-based 
company said Monday that the planned maintenance shutdown would not happen due to “the role Twitter is currently playing as an important communication tool in Iran.”
NBC reported that a senior level official at the State Department announced that they had asked Twitter not to down the site for scheduled maintenance repairs because web sites and cell phones were being shut down in Iran and journalists were being kicked out, so the State Department wanted "to highlight to [Twitter] that this was an important means of communication -- not with us -- but horizontally in Iran."
The efforts to stop the scheduled site maintenance on Twitter was also successful due to the hashtag #nomaintenance. Twitter has become the most reliable social media platform used for coordination and communication amongst the Iranian opposition within Iran and with the outside world.
From cyber attacks on the state-run website to a video condolence message from Obama, an outpouring of support for Iran's protesters is unfolding online.
U.S. State Department speaks to Twitter over Iran
The Revolution Must Be Twittered
Social Networks Spread Defiance Online
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 15, 2009
Social Change in Iran
Iran has seen an outcry of protests documented online against the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of Iran.
Protests broke out in the streets of Tehran Saturday and Sunday after the voting commission announced Incumbent President Ahmadinejad has won 62% support in an election marked by high turnout in what has been claimed a fraudulent and rigged election. Pictures are flooding the Internet showing ransacked dorm rooms, burning buses and cars, bloody protesters and riot police.
The Iranian presidential election can be seen as the beginning of a social movement marked by technology and a generation of progressive, tech-savvy and politically active young Iranians. Change may not come in the form of a new President, but the social movement started online will not fall easily to the wayside.
CNN reports that Iran's state-run media has mostly ignored the protests and international journalists were prevented from covering the demonstrations. "The Web sites of pro-opposition supporters were inaccessible, and the government also had periodically shut down access to social-networking sites, making it difficult for information to reach the outside world." Facebook was used on Saturday and Sunday to organize and announce street protests, to send out warnings about police activity, and to inform supporters of the whereabouts of Mousavi. "It's horrific, shameful and paradoxical to what you see on TV," said a Moussavi supporter.
Twitter was a very useful communication tool during the Iranian presidential election protests. Graphic details describing the tear-gas wheeling riot-police and angry student supporters were posted on Twitter at @changeforIran and @voiceOfIran, using the hashtag #iranelection. One of the latest posts reads, "Students have been murdered last night in Tehran University Dorms, it's true and they will kill more ppl if they gather today.#iranelection" Text messaging and mobile services were cut off across Iran on and around election day and were still blocked on Sunday.
Tear gas and Twitter: Iranians take their protests online
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June 10, 2009
The Fight Is Online In Iran's Election
In Iran, victory in Friday's presidential election could be determined by Facebook and the 46 million eligible voters under 30 years old who use the social networking site.
Between the main candidates in Friday's presidential election, two very different campaign strategies exist. Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi are both fighting a battle online; one repressing a movement and one creating a movement.
The traditional method of using mosques as gathering places and stumps to rally political support in Iran is being used very successfully by President Ahmadinejad. Unfortunately for main challenger Mousavi's campaign, a government organization has denied them permission to use Tehran's Azadi Stadium for rallies.
Mousavi supporters have resorted to text messages and the Web in an effort to organize last minute rallies along Tehran's arterial road. According to the Washington Post, Mousavi backers wearing Mousavi's signature color green, has been able to help organize grassroots rallies in what has been called, "the most digital and virtual election ever" in Iran.
Reformists are also using the Internet to bypass the official state media which favors the current administration. When Facebook was shutdown by the Iranian government on May 23, accusations arose that Ahmadinejad's administration had purposely blocked access to detract from the reformist's online movement. Access was restored the next day and many say Admadinejad's admistration will have to grin and bear Facebook, lest it be proven unable to handle free expression and to allow some social freedom so that younger people vote for their party.
So instead of shutting off access to the Internet, why not bash the users as unathletic and antisocial geeks? Shamaqdari, Ahmadinejad's advisor, has commented on Mousavi supporters' use of the Internet. "Even though it is bad for their mental health, Mousavi's supporters spend hours on the Internet," said Shamaqdari. Our youths are more social. They like to hang out at baseej centers, on the streets or play sports. They like to meet in groups. Mousavi's supporters are more solitary."
No incumbent in the history of the Islamic Republic has lost in a re-election, but the social movement taking place online by Iran's progressives may make this election the exception to that historic rule.
In Iran Election, Tradition Competes With Web
Victory requires Facebook friends
Posted by Buzz Webster at 04:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 08, 2009
Angry Tweets and Paris Trips
Pres. Obama's weekly radio and Internet address Saturday called on Congress to enact legislation to reform the health-care system; provoking angry Twitter posts from Sen. Grassley (R-Iowa).
After President Obama told lawmakers that "it's time to deliver" on a health care overhaul while he spent Saturday in Paris, 75 year old Republican Senator Charles E. Grassley fired off two irked messages on Twitter saying that President Obama has "nerve" to tell the Senate to deliver on health care reform while he is "siteseeing" in Paris.
The first post said, "Pres Obama you got nerve while u sightseeing in Paris to tell us 'time to deliver' on health care. We still on skedul/even workinWKEND." A short time later, Grassley wrote, "Pres Obama while u sightseeing in Paris u said 'time to delivr on healthcare' When you are a 'hammer' u think evrything is NAIL I'm no NAIL."
The AP reports that a Grassley spokeswoman verified that the senator wrote the messages and when asked to respond to Grassley, White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said: "President Obama is gratified that the Senate is working hard to bring a health reform bill to the floor on schedule. He looks forward to continuing his work with them upon his return from the commemoration of Allied heroism at D-Day."
Senator says Obama 'got nerve' to push lawmakers
Sen. Grassley Twitters Health Reform: A Story In Tweets
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June 05, 2009
eDiplomacy Spreads Through Cairo
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The U.S. Department of State used text messaging as a global communications tool, sending highlights from Pres. Obama's speech in Cairo to people around the world.
President Obama called for a new relationship between the United States and Muslims around the world during his speech in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday, June 4, 2009, and the State Department went to high- tech lengths to make sure that the mesage resonated to as many citizens of the Muslim world as possible.
The U.S. Department of State utilized text messaging as a global communications tool, initiating an eDiplomacy program where people from around the world could sign up to receive SMS and text messages with highlights from Pres. Obama's speech. The updates were not available to U.S. citizens since the State Department paid for the text messaging and has a policy of only using funds to address foreign audiences.
The text message highlights were available in 13 languages and sent out to more than 200 countries. By completing an online registration form on America.gov, available in English, Arabic, Urdu and Persian, enrolled participants were able to receive the speech highlights and invited to send in their comments.
The New York Times reported that the State Department has had difficulty reaching those located in remote areas to inform them that the text messages were available and considers this first eDiplomacy text blast a pilot program. Duncan MacInnes, a State Department spokesman, told the NYT, "It won't be perfect. It is an area we will spend a lot of time thinking about."
The White House has a full transcript of the speech posted in 15 different languages and released a short video soon after Obama's speech featuring featuring three Muslim Americans who work for the federal government.
Photos of Obama giving the speech are posted on flickr.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 02, 2009
U.S. Cybersecurity A Priority For Obama
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President Obama recently released a 76 page "Cyberspace Policy Review" which outlines the need to secure the nation's computer networks.
Speaking at the White House on Friday morning, President Obama pledged to increase cybersecurity and said, "Protecting this infrastructure will be a national security priority. We will ensure that these networks are secure, trustworthy and resilient. We will deter, prevent, detect, and defend against attacks and recover quickly from any disruptions or damage."
Obama has also vowed to create a new office in the White House and led by a Cyber Czar who will be, "responsible for orchestrating and integrating all cyber security policies for the government; working closely with the Office of Management and Budget to ensure agency budgets reflect those priorities; and, in the event of major cyber incident or attack, coordinating our response."
In the video version of Obama's Cybersecurity policy review, Staying Safe Online: The Need for Cybersecurity, experts including: Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security; William Pelgrin, Chief Cybersecurity Officer of New York; John Thompson, CEO of Symantec; Leslie Harris of the Center for Democracy & Technology; and Jeannette Wing of the National Science Foundation give their take on the need for securing our primary means of communicating in the 21st century.
Related Articles:
Speculation and Rumors on the Cyber Czar
Obama vows to prioritize cybersecurity
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
