Social media’s catalytic role, particularly highlighted since January, had made the oppressive regimes dread the digital technology. Such dictators have always relied on handy tools like blocking certain websites or blacking out Internet in their respective countries. Neither did it serve Egyptian tyrant Mobarak nor his Libyan counterpart Gaddafi. Pro-democracy citizens in Syria, Iran, Yemen and Bahrain are braving all odds to snatch their rights to dignified and prosperous life.
Owing to an assortment of political intricacies, the world’s leading nations cannot do much to help the awakening people, confronted with draconian armies. Libya has taught the West enough lessons about availing the option of multilateral military action.
In the footsteps of Cold War-era Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, innovative solutions seem ready to keep pro-democracy activists organized, united and expressing. The New York Times’ recent investigative report reveals United States’ plans to launch a ‘shadow’ Internet using robust materials and simple technology. The report says that the device would be small enough to fit in a suitcase but would evade censoring and shutting down of telecom networks.
Such a clandestine plan could not be possible without dedicated involvement of the Internet underworld, comprising young and anti-status quo hackers. The State Department and Pentagon have foot the $2million bill for research and development with multiple ‘stealth’ solutions on their hands. Afghanistan proved to be the best testing ground for state-of-the-art technology where the Taliban militia would blow away telecom towers, disrupting communications amongst the troops. What was experienced during insurgency in the war-torn Central Asian nation is set to be deployed to destabilize the Arab dictators, a common foe of United States as well as al-Qaeda.
While China, North Africa, Iran, Syria, Libya and many other nations with Internet censorship may see smuggling of such systems as violation of sovereignty, the public at large would be enabled to lift the dark veil of blockade. Whatever benefits the Internet-in-a-suitcase may bring to the people, its actual development and deployment requires time. Would the US government and champions of the idea like Hillary Clinton be willing to offer similar technology to Pakistan or Saudi Arabia, where the elites remain favorable to the White House? On a pessimistic note, enterprising and nationalist Chinese or Middle Eastern hackers may deprive it of much publicized stealth factor. Until then, the shadow Internet may give company to restless free souls.
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