Internet can be one of the most important inventions in
human history. It started of as
only few point-to-point connections between some computers. Nowadays, it grew
into a gain monster covering almost everywhere on earth. It seems to become one of the most
powerful inventions as well.
People can get almost any information of anywhere in the world from
Internet. And they almost can
upload their own knowledge onto Internet for everyone to see. Many organizations fear of losing power
to this gain communication network, especially, countries with serious domestic
issues. Internet in those areas
has become not only a tool for people seeking for truth, but also a weapon of
anti-government movements.
Therefore, some countries decide to eliminate this weapon for their own
survival. Egypt and Libya are
examples of massive Internet shut down.
Now, Syria may join the party.
It is still unclear what is the reason for the recentcountrywide Internet shutdown in Syria.
The government claims that it is caused by terrorist attack. But it is still unusual or nearly
impossible for a simple terrorist attack to cause all 84 IP address of Syria to
drop off from world Internet all at once.
However, there is a massive civil war in Syria, in such chaotic time,
anything can be possible. Moreover, this time in Syria, it was not only the
Internet; the cell phone network also only works intermittently. If this is really caused by Syria
government, they for sure have learnt something from Egypt – to stop people
going onto Internet completely, not event from their phones.
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| Monitoring firm Akamai posted this graph showing level of net activity in Syria |
Many countries have already recognized and started to fear
the gain power of Internet. But
the potential of Internet will not stop on only being an information-exchanging
platform. It will be developed
bigger and more into our every day life.
Many of us have already rely on internet form many of our daily
activities, such as using cloud to store and access important files, control
home appliances using cell phones or internet connections, access to stock
market, banks and more. Soon,
shutting down Internet will not only stop connection to outside world, but also
cause huge destruction. It is not
even mention how much destruction people can cause by using Internet for unlawful
purposes. This is the power of Internet,
soon will be the strongest power in the world.
For the past couple of days, USC wireless has been shaky and temperamental. For all of yesterday, it wasn't working at all on campus where I live. I know both my room mate and I were panicked - both of us had endless amounts of homework that required internet connection.
ReplyDeleteWe've become so immersed in technology that we don't know how to live without it anymore. Even a couple of hours, a week without internet connection hampers our ability to do a lof of things in life - checking our e-mails, doing our homework, talking to our friends.
I feel like the internet is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it provides us with a wealth of knowledge. If we don't know something, it's so easy to google it and find information about it. On the other hand, it's also so distracting (I had to deactivate Facebook for a couple of days because I was getting too distracted). I wish I didn't rely on the internet so much sometimes, but like a lot of you, I'm addicted. One day without the internet is physically agonizing (and yes, maybe that's a slight exaggeration!)
As you have mentioned, the internet has become a weapon. And it has even been used by both sides. We can see that the U.S. military (until today can still be claimed as the Superpower), has set its attention on cyber warfare and everyday creating new military jobs that deal specially with tasks of the internet or even old jobs have transitioned to focus on the net. Every day several governmental websites track numerous attempts by China to hack into its systems, and not just China but plenty of other countries. It will be a weapon that will be used for good and bad, just as any other.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we need to take a step back to reconceptualize what the internet is. The digital age has not allowed us to settle on a single framework for thought in order to handle its accelerating developments and constant shifts in the frame of reference. This means, of course, that the mobile technology age that we currently inhabit should allow us to rethink the internet, and revise our idea of it from the PC-dominated age. This said, the internet should not be so objectified. It is a network, after all, and is a stage for the world's interactions. Let it be a subject! The "internet" is not the weapon, as the commenter above me states. It is the means to various ends, good and evil. It is the latest incarnation of communications and networking technology, and it of course embeds itself into our lives. We as humans have a propensity to demand information. I would not have it any other way.
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