Social Media Tips Middle East Balance

Sometimes hurled in protest, stones in Cairo also spelled out a much more powerful weapon when they spelled out "Facebook."

Following social media's pivotal role in the Egypt revolution, Facebook pages and Twitter groups are now popping up in at least ten countries across the Middle East and North Africa, reports CBS News correspondent Seth Doane.

These sites are rallying anti-government sentiment from Morocco and Algeria, from Syria to Bahrain.

John Palfrey: "The internet has had a coming of age in this uprising in Egypt," said internet expert and Harvard professor John Palfrey.... AND

Foreign governments are trying to catch up.

"Those who clamp down on Internet freedom may be able to hold back the full impact of their people's yearnings for a while, but not forever," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a press conference announcing U.S. plans to spend $25 million annually to support online dissidents in repressive states.

Special Report: Anger in the Arab World

This afternoon, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called free access to the internet a fundamental "human right."

"We believe that governments who have erected barriers to internet freedom - whether they're technical filters or censorship regimes or attacks on those who exercise their rights to expression and assembly online - will eventually find themselves boxed in," Clinton saWhere Might Social Media Aid a Revolt Next?id.

In Egypt, Facebook, Google and Twitter mobilized crowds and sparked a revolution. That put pressure on not just the government, but on the social media companies themselves. They could lose millions in future business.

"They are walking a tightrope between the freedoms that they mean to uphold but also the local laws where they don't want to be too associated with the kinds of uprisings that might result in them getting kicked out of the country," Palfrey said.

There are questions about whether America has a double standard. Today, prosecutors for the justice department were pushing Twitter to release confidential information in the WikiLeaks case.

Secretary Clinton says that's not a contradiction.

"WikiLeaks does not challenge our commitment to Internet freedom," Clinton said. "The WikiLeaks incident began with an act of theft. Government documents were stolen."

With nearly a third of humanity online there's a new struggle to determine boundaries, where they simply don't exist.

[soonerpete]

We need to stay out of Egypt's business. Our media seems to portray that all Egyptians were in favor of ousting Mubarak. That is not true as my young friend who is Egyptian and lives in Egypt says. I asked my friend...Is it safe to go outside at night now since Mr. Mubarak is not your president? The news media shows celebration in Cairo. Do you feel safe with the military in charge? What changes do you expect regarding the system of government, political, economic and social reforms? I hope they are positive changes for you. God be with you and your family during this time.

She answered...thanks for asking about me. i can go out in safe now but my parents are always worry about me. i don't see any positive changes. i like Mubarak. may be the problem was in alot of ministries or big business men in the country. the main problem was not in Mubarak.i hope it will be better.

Setting up a new form of government needs to be left to the Egyptian people. If they ask for America's help, we can sent people, but I don't think we should send money that could be interpreted as trying to influence those who emerge as leaders. They need to work without the temptation of dollars from the US. I hope as my friend does that all the new reforms are positive, but there are a lot of Egyptians who feel that Mubarak was not the problem. Pray for Egypt.

[AlanW33225]

They are all just a bunch of psychotic rapists. We should nuke the whole country and be done with it.

[lucifersshadow]

Au contraire, Egypt is a very SANE country, and the behavior of their military was exceptional during the revolution. Egypt is also a very beautiful country, with a wonderful cultural heritage. Egypt is not sending money to dictators either.

[tiredofthebs]

Social Media Tips Middle East Balance .........


(LOL) Social Media couldn't tip a glass of milk! It's not that serious. People here in America have been offering their opinions for YEARS using the internet. It's gotten them what?! FACEBOOK has no ability to bring about REAL CHANGE. This last election proved that.

[rktsci3127]

They should spend some money eliminating the pigs that rape and beat reporters.

[fiebigdave]

Who at CBS decided to send young, female, blond, blue eyed Lara Logan into that male dominated hell-hole in Egypt??? What did they think would happen or didn't they care? Like a lamb led to the slaughter. This is way beyond "reporters take risks all the time" or "it's a dangerous business". This was a criminal disregard for the safety of a young woman. Where are the groups who say they are advocates for women?

[Rynedrop]

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a press conference announcing U.S. plans to spend $25 million annually to support online dissidents in repressive states"

I don't mind spending some of our taxes on a great cause.