Political Hotsheet
By

Dan Farber /

CBS News/ June 12, 2011, 9:19 AM

U.S. funding stealth Internets to circumvent repressive regimes

Civil war looms as Syrian violence escalates

With a ban on foreign journalists in Syria, the world's window on the violence in the country is through cell phone pictures and refugee accounts.

/ CBS News

The revolution will be broadcast, despite efforts by repressive regimes to censor or shut down Internet and cell phone networks.

The New York Times reports that U.S. government funding is helping to develop and deploy "shadow" Internet and mobile phone systems to undermine repressive regimes that seek to prevent dissidents from getting their stories out to the world.

According to the Times, by the end of the year the State Department will have spent $70 million on efforts to provide alternate pathways for dissidents to access the Internet and telecommunications services.

One group received $2 million to develop an "Internet in a suitcase" that could be easily carried and set up in a foreign country.

The use of technology as a kind of soft weapon and staple of foreign policy efforts against repressive regimes has become a focus for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The U.S. government has financed wireless networks in Afghanistan, Libya and other countries to assist dissidents in their efforts to bring about regime change.

Read the full story at The New York Times.

© 2011 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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    Dan has more than 20 years of journalism experience. He has served as editor in chief of CBSNews.com, CNET News, ZDNet, PC Week, and MacWeek.

9 Comments Add a Comment
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bobnjersey says:
[One group received $2 million to develop an "Internet in a suitcase" that could be easily carried and set up in a foreign country]
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can it be used here in the u.s.?
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Michael12540 says:
$70 million could feed a lot of children whom are starving within the United States.
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user000049586849302948603 says:
It would have been all good had it been kept secret. Now these repressive regimes will know to sever the physical lines of communication. Good job flushing $70 million down the toilet.
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slatep says:
HILLARY, you go girl.!!

You have just proven that the fact you do not have "ba**s"
isn't stopping you from doing what needs to be done.

All other government officials take note.

Hillary for President.!

She seems to be the only person in government that has the guts to do what needs to be done.
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pr_boxer says:
I support Radio Free Texas!
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samXXkiley says:
coucou,

il ya des r?gimes dictatoriaux et il ya ceux qui les soutiennent commez la Russie et la Chine,
logique ces deux pays ne sont pas un exemple de d?mocratie

........................

there are dictatorships and there are those who support such as Russia and China
logic, these two countries are not an example of democracy
"au revoir"
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slatep says:
HILLRY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT.!!

Right now, she seems to be the only person in government who is totally focused on her responsibilities and is willing to actually do her job.

As for Obama and Congress..see Schieffers comments elsewhere on this site.
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Middle_American_Man says:
Radio Free Europe. I like it.
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mgunn89512 says:
Of course we won't be doing this in countries with dictatorships that are our allies.
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