Promoting Digital Disobedience

An article published by Ian Shapira highlights the U.S. role in offering aid to the Middle East. Unlike other contributions, this aid is not coming in the form of money or food products. Instead, the U.S. is providing citizens in the Middle East technology to surf the web anonymously in an attempt to overthrow their government. The Washington Post article further notes that technology aid is purposed to encourage citizens to use social media and view news without being tracked by their government.  

The State Department and the Defense Department have been big supporters of promoting digital disobedience by offering technology aid. In January 21, 2010, Secretary Clinton, declared that she supported a single Internet where all of humanity has equal access to knowledge and ideas. The United States is taking a dual approach to their engagement. On one hand, we are working with foreign counties to promote good governance and on the other hand we are attempting to empower citizens to demand their own good governance. Engaging both government and civil society is critical; however, it does come with many risks.

Demonstrators using this new technology provided by the U.S. are constantly being on alert. Although they actively use Facebook, Twitter and other social media to advocate their concerns, they do so with much hesitancy. Not only must the U.S. remain smart in the Middle East, but must also be vigilant in China. The U.S. is constantly monitoring diplomatic relations with China. However China censors certain and blocks certain websites from its citizens.  Providing technology aid to these countries can be perceived differently by these foreign governments. On the same token, these same governments prefer that the United States not speak out about human rights issues.

The U.S. is taking a political act of encourage by investing in this technology to encourage civil society to demand democracy. Regardless of the risk and challenges posed, the U.S. is making an effort to give citizens the tools to define their own life and advocate for their own issues. While managing diplomatic relations with foreign governments, the U.S. has a very serious task of empowering the grassroots movement.  The U.S. is not only encouraging civil disobedience, but is advocating for digital disobedience in a new way.