Information Policy

How People In The Middle East Actually Use Social Media

Since the suicide of an underfoot fruit vendor in Tunisia, the Arab world has generated some of the world's most-followed stories. History will find the news coming out of Arab countries during this time both gripping and plentiful. Less is known, however, of the news and information reaching Arab countries and communities during this period, and at times much has been speculated of, say, Twitter reliance in Tunisia, satellite TV dependence in Egypt, or tablet use in the highly connected Arab Gulf.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/04/how-people-in-the-middle-east-actually-use-social-media/275246/

Civic Engagement in the Digital Age

Social networking sites have grown more important in recent years as a venue for political involvement, learning, and debate. Overall, 39% of all American adults took part in some sort of political activity on a social networking site during the 2012 campaign.

This means that more Americans are now politically active on social networking sites (SNS) than used them at all as recently as the 2008 election campaign. At that point, 26% of the population used a social networking site of any kind.

The growth in several specific behaviors between 2008 and 2012 illustrates the increasing importance of SNS as places where citizens can connect with political causes and issues:

• In 2012, 17% of all adults posted links to political stories or articles on social networking sites, and 19% posted other types of political content. That is a six-fold increase from the 3% of adults who posted political stories or links on these sites in 2008.
• In 2012, 12% of all adults followed or friended a political candidate or other political figure on a social networking site, and 12% belonged to a group on a social networking site involved in advancing a political or social issue. That is a four-fold increase from the 3% of adults who took part in these behaviors in 2008.

Read or download the full report: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Civic-Engagement.aspx

Facebook To Open Tech-Advanced Data Center

by Laurie Sullivan

Microsoft and Google recently announced clean energy plans for their respective data centers -- and now Facebook will build what some call the "most technologically advanced" data center in Altoona, Iowa.

Continue reading "Facebook To Open Tech-Advanced Data Center" »

Iran and China constantly block access to DW on the Net. But Psiphon helps users gain access to blocked sites. DW has been collaborating with Psiphon developers for the Bobs, DW's award for online activism.

Continue reading "Psiphon helps dodge the online trackers " »

Hackers from the law enforcement agencies threaten to hack the websites of Charter'97 and Viasna human rights centre.

“Belorusski Partizan”, a Belarusian independent website, has been hacked today, April 25.

Psiphon helps dodge the online trackers

Iran and China constantly block access to DW on the Net. But Psiphon helps users gain access to blocked sites. DW has been collaborating with Psiphon developers for the Bobs, DW's award for online activism.

Continue reading "Psiphon helps dodge the online trackers " »

Hackers from the law enforcement agencies threaten to hack the websites of Charter'97 and Viasna human rights centre.

“Belorusski Partizan”, a Belarusian independent website, has been hacked today, April 25.

Belarus: KGB puts on Anonymous mask: Belpartizan website hacked

Hackers from the law enforcement agencies threaten to hack the websites of Charter'97 and Viasna human rights centre.

“Belorusski Partizan”, a Belarusian independent website, has been hacked today, April 25.