DigiActive.org

Tool: Egypt activists rely on Facebook – what if it’s blocked?

Although this site is about how technology empowers activists on a global scale, we must not be blind optimists or think of digital activism as a panacea. For this reason we include thoughtful criticism of digital activism. If we want to make truly meaningful change we must address the Pros & Cons of digital activism.

As we wrote in a previous post, Facebook has been immensely important in young Egyptian’s efforts to achieve more accountable government. Now the Egyptian government is threatening to block Facebook in Egypt in order to cut off this powerful organizing and mobilizing tool. Was relying on this single tool a strategic misstep for Egyptians digital activists?

Sherif Mansour of Freedom House explains both the importance of Facebook to Egyptian activists and the reality of the threat of blockage in this recent op-ed for the LA Times:

Right now, the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is considering blocking Facebook, the social networking website that has become a popular hangout for twentysomethings worldwide and a favorite venue for Egypt’s disaffected youth. The reason: In April, one group of young citizens mobilized 80,000 supporters to protest rising food prices. Facebook networking played a crucial role in broadening support and turnout for an April 6 textile workers’ strike and protest.

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