Dissidents In Syria Are Using The Web At Their Own Risk

Khaled al-Ekhetyar, who works for a Web site, said many online journalists used pseudonyms. Julien Goldstein for The New York Times

Web Tastes Freedom Inside Syria, And It’s Bitter -- New York Times

DAMASCUS, Syria — Earlier this month, a graphic video of teachers beating their young students appeared on Facebook. Although Facebook is officially banned here, the video quickly went viral, with Syrian bloggers stoking public anger until the story was picked up by the pan-Arab media.

Finally, the Education Ministry issued a statement saying the teachers had been reassigned to desk jobs. The episode was a rare example of the way Syrians using Facebook and blogs can win a tenuous measure of freedom within the country’s tightly controlled media scene, where any criticism of the government, however oblique, can lead to years in prison.

Read more ....

My comment: Syria is one of the most repressive states in the Middle East .... but they cannot hold back what the internet can provide. With time, the web will be a source for those who are dissatisfied with the Syrian Government to vex their feelings .... and to then use the web to organize. But until then .... the web is only functioning as a means to disseminate information and news.