cyberprotest
When the French nationalist party FN opened an office on Second Life, it was soon followed by a spontaneous outbreak of protest manifestions in front of its virtual headquarters.
So-called cyberprotest (see also book) seems to be on the rise. Not only Second Life but also YouTube is apparently a channel through which protesters like to take action. An article on Slashdot says:
“One factor driving the move of political statements to YouTube, and away from old-style street protest, is that on the Internet the chances of being personally associated with a protest are lower. Mounting your political message online is also safer in countries where taking part in a protest can result in your death or injury at the hands of your country’s army. We’ve seen how street protests and online polls alike are being shunted aside and ignored. What is the future for the common person who yearns to be heard?”
Cyberprotest can take many forms ranging from petitions and peaceful virtual marches, to (hacker-like) internet traffic hindrance and net-strikes, to downright smear-campaigns. Because of today’s world’s dependence on and weight of online communication, branding and newsgathering, cyberprotests can be just as (if not more) impactful or damaging to the image of an organization as in real life. The future of protest might look a whole lot different than your classical, colourful ‘street gathering’.
Via Slashdot, Image via Ecrans
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