Social Networks Also Empower The Enemies Of Freedom And Of The West (A Commentary)

Photo: Libyan opposition members set up base in Benghazi, gathering video and photos to distribute online. Ed Ou / The New York Times-Redux

The Mash of Civilizations -- Niall Ferguson, Newsweek

Social networks might promote democracy, but they also empower the enemies of freedom.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that information technology—in particular social networking through the Internet—is changing the global balance of power. The “Facebook Generation” has already been credited with the overthrow of the Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak. For a brief period, the darling of Tahrir Square was the young Google executive Wael Ghonim.

Yet there is another side to the story. It is not only proponents of democracy who know how to exploit the power of online networking. It is also the enemies of freedom.

Read more ....

My Comment: Niall Ferguson from Newsweek is spot on in his analysis on how Islamists and other extremists are using the web to promote their cause. Read it all.