CIMS Quiz 3, class #2- revolutions and authoritarians

Hao Haidong

Former Chinese soccer player who became known for publicly criticizing the Chinese gov and expressing political dissent.

He posted a video on social media that was critical of the gov, but it was taken down within 24 hours and scrubbed from the internet. His comments were censored across Chinese platforms.

Shows how state power can control digital media through censorship and removing information. Also highlights how individuals can use media to challenge political authority even when the content is suppressed.

Evan Mawarire

Zimbabwean pastor and activist who used social media to organize protests through the #ThisFlag movement.

His videos criticized gov corruption and inspired national demonstrations that advocated for social justice.

Shows how social media can mobilize political activism and how it helps amplify voices opposing political oppression. But his case also highlights the risks activists face when challenging state authority through the media, since he ended up imprisoned.

Arab Spring

Wave of protests and uprising that began in 2010 across MENA where people used street demonstrations and digital platforms to demand political change.

Social media played a major role in organizing protests, sharing info quickly, and bypassing state controlled news. Music and cultural expression also helped spread political messages. For instance, Hamada Ben Aoun used rap to express frustration and resistance during the movement.

Significant b/c it shows how media can allow for political mobilization and collective action. It also demonstrates how online communication and cultural media can challenge authoritarian regimes and amplify public dissent.

Mohamed Bouazizi

Was a Tunisian street vendor whose set himself on fire that lit the Arab Spring.

His act of self immolation spread quickly through news media and social networks and turned him into a symbol of resistance.

Highlighted the plight of marginalized individuals and triggered widespread protests against oppressive regimes in Tunisia and beyond. Shows power of media in shaping collective emotion, spreading dissent, and turning personal stories into catalysts for large scale political movements.

Internet Kill Switch

A government tactic that lets authorities disable internet access in a specific area or country.

Used during times of political unrest or crisis, aiming to control information flow and suppress dissent.

Shows how states can directly control the systems that let people send and receive info

Raises concerns about censorship, human rights and freedom of expression as internet kill switches highlight the tension between state security and individual liberties

The Green Revolution

Series of protests in 2009 after the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a right wing president who many believed the results were rigged.

People went to the streets in protest of election fraud, high costs of living, and lack of political freedom and social media helped organize protests and share info when traditional media was controlled by the state.

Shows how digital media can support political acitivism under authoritarian governaments and how activism can extend to digital platforms as hacking communities carried out DDoS attacks on gov websites.

Bl00dy November

Period of violent protests and gov repression in Iran sparked by the sudden increase in fuel prices. Around 1500 people were killed and the gov shut down the internet for almost a week to regain control and limit communication.

Shows how governments try to control the spread or lack thereof information during crises by shutting down communication systems to allow them to shape public narratives. Also shows how what people see depends on who is controlling or sharing the information which in turn shapes how local and global audiences understand events.

Mahsa Amini

Young women who was arrested in 2022 for not wearing her hijab in Iran and then killed in custody and her death sparked global protests.

Her story spread widely through social media and she became a symbol of resistance against the regime's oppression of women's rights and broader issues of human rights in Iran.

Her death shows how state actions can incite widespread outrage and mobilization for change, highlighting the power of digital platforms in amplifying social justice movements.

Aparat

Iran's state-controlled video sharing platform that is their version of Youtube. It is heavily monitored and the gov is able to censor content and regulate and monitor surveillance.

Represents state-controlled alternatives to global media platforms so governments can manage information, limit outside influence, and maintain control over online content and user behavior.

Russian Internet Research Agency

Russian org known for running online disinformation and influence campaigns that use fake accounts, bots, and organized posts. It creates and spreads content designed to manipulate political opinions by targeting specific demographics and exploiting social media algorithms to amplify its reach.

Shows how digital platforms can be used for propaganda and political influence at a large scale.

Highlights difficulty in verifying truth online when content is strategically created to be misleading.

Network Enforcement Act (2017 )

Germany’s, requires social media platforms to quickly remove illegal content, especially hate speech or they’ll face heavy fines.

Forces companies to actively monitor and moderate what users post instead of just hosting it

Shows how governments are shifting responsibility to tech companies for controlling what is online, raises a debate between protecting users from harmful content VS the risk of censorship and overly removing speech

Right to be Forgotten

Is a legal rule that lets people request that certain personal info about them be removed from search engines, under European data protection laws.

Mainly used when old or harmful info about someone continues to appear online.

Shows that digital info isn’t always permanent and can be controlled/removed in certain cases, important b/c it highlights the tension between privacy and the public’s right to access info

Anonymous

Is a decentralized online hackgroup known for hacktivism and advocating for freedom of information and opposing government censorship.

Important b/c it shows how activism can happen entirely online and digital tools can be used to challenge powerful governments and corporations.

Also raises an issue b/c if people act anonymously, it becomes harder to hold anyone responsible for their actions and that pushes us to think about the power and risks of anonymous digital activism.

Wikileaks

Online platform that publishes leaked or classified gov + corporate documents that aims to promote transparency and expose abuses of power.

It seeks to inform the public about wrongdoing while raising complex legal and ethical questions regarding the protection of sources and the potential risks for whistleblowers.

Challenges traditional control over info and who gets to decide what the public can know, raises debates about transparency vs security and whether releasing private or classified info is ethical or harmful.

Pentagon Papers

Leaked U.S. government documents revealed the misleading nature of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

Showed that gov officials hid info about the war’s failures and escalations. Ended up being published by major press and news outlets despite gov pressures to stop them.

Showed the power of leaked info in shifting public opinion and exposing gov deception as Americans lost confidence.

Julian Assange

Founder of WikiLeaks which is known for publishing classified documents and promoting government transparency.

He has faced legal challenges and is a controversial figure b/c of his role in whistleblowing and national security.

Important b/c he represents the conflict between gov control of info and the push for online transparency. His actions show how you can bypass the gov to release classified info and hold those in power accountable, raising ongoing debates about the ethics of leaking sensitive information.

Edward Snowden

Former NSA contractor who leaked classified documents about government surveillance programs. He revealed how the government was collecting and tracking people’s digital activity, including phone calls, messages, and online activity.

His actions ignited discussions on civil liberties and the right to privacy, leading to calls for reforms in surveillance practices and greater transparency in government operations.

Significant b/c his actions informed people that their online activity was being monitored by governments and corporations, which changed how the public understood privacy, trust, and state power in the digital age.