Earlier this week I finished reading my copy of The Net Delusion by Evgeny Morozov. I’ve always been rather skeptical of the claims about how Twitter and Facebook are being used as tools for revolutions. The Net Delusion is extremely critical of this very western assumption and uses several examples from the cold war (Samizdat, Radio Free Europe, etc.) as how these technologies really aren’t that effective.
Morozov also talks about the hypocrisy of the west (primarily America) in regards to censorship and monitoring of ones people. America has been very critical of authoritarian states in regards to freedom, but then allows various industries to censor its citizens when someone’s bottom line is at risk. These acts essentially put cards in the authoritarian states hands; “If you (America) can sensor its citizens when it’s convenient why can’t we?”
When I was nearing the end of the book it felt like it had run out of a bit of steam. Although it made going through the last few chapters a bit tough it is still an excellent read.
If you are looking for an interesting read over the holidays, or simply want to learn about the other side of “Internet freedom” then you probably won’t be disappointed.