Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
The changes that have affected the region since the first spark of a revolution was lit in a city in Tunisia have encompassed the fields of politics, culture, education, and most importantly, telecommunications.
Tools such as mobile phones and laptops are now being used to convey ideas, publish news and transmit information, which was earlier difficult to do in the Arab world without permission from the authorities.
New media platforms have significantly raised awareness, especially in the marginalised majority of Arab youth, who are not just demanding better economic conditions any more.
These youth are making unusual political demands that may be forbidden in their societies, which are ruled by narrow-minded rulers in unilateral systems formed on tribal or sectarian lines.
The counterrevolution achieved some of its political goals through a coup that assaulted new experiences and tried to get legitimised through the ballot box, and supported and funded the resurrection and return of the former regime.
The next task is containing the bigger danger, namely the social media.
This involves various legitimate and illegitimate methods, which have started to pay off.
Surveillance of political activists and civilians has become common. On the other hand, individuals and sectarian and religious institutions are employing religious edicts in their political battles.
All are attempts to limit the use of Twitter, especially to express political, social and religious ideas that are not compatible with the authorities and their agenda.
Social media are now a forum for trading accusations, promoting lies and spreading corruption. For their users the punishment is Hell, and wretched is the destination.
The authorities have also launched organised campaigns targeting tweeters, referring them to prosecution, submitting complaints and filing lawsuits against them, accusing them of threatening national unity, subjecting them to imprisonment and suspension, as well as fabricating charges against them.
The authorities have also managed to hack into the accounts of these activists and publish tweets on their behalf that would harm their reputation. The Twitter Transparency Report mentions pressure from Arab governments, especially in the Gulf region, to get information on suspending several reports.
The changes that have affected the region since the first spark of a revolution was lit in a city in Tunisia have encompassed the fields of politics, culture, education, and most importantly, telecommunications.
Tools such as mobile phones and laptops are now being used to convey ideas, publish news and transmit information, which was earlier difficult to do in the Arab world without permission from the authorities.
New media platforms have significantly raised awareness, especially in the marginalised majority of Arab youth, who are not just demanding better economic conditions any more.
These youth are making unusual political demands that may be forbidden in their societies, which are ruled by narrow-minded rulers in unilateral systems formed on tribal or sectarian lines.
The counterrevolution achieved some of its political goals through a coup that assaulted new experiences and tried to get legitimised through the ballot box, and supported and funded the resurrection and return of the former regime.
The next task is containing the bigger danger, namely the social media.
This involves various legitimate and illegitimate methods, which have started to pay off.
Surveillance of political activists and civilians has become common. On the other hand, individuals and sectarian and religious institutions are employing religious edicts in their political battles.
All are attempts to limit the use of Twitter, especially to express political, social and religious ideas that are not compatible with the authorities and their agenda.
Social media are now a forum for trading accusations, promoting lies and spreading corruption. For their users the punishment is Hell, and wretched is the destination.
The authorities have also launched organised campaigns targeting tweeters, referring them to prosecution, submitting complaints and filing lawsuits against them, accusing them of threatening national unity, subjecting them to imprisonment and suspension, as well as fabricating charges against them.
The authorities have also managed to hack into the accounts of these activists and publish tweets on their behalf that would harm their reputation. The Twitter Transparency Report mentions pressure from Arab governments, especially in the Gulf region, to get information on suspending several reports.
