Should the Internet Come with an Off-Switch? (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | The cat seems out of the bag with regards to social media, messenger apps, and other forms of fast wireless communication: They can be used to stay one step ahead of law enforcement personnel in a difficult setting. Just as rioters in London utilized a variety of social media to coordinate attacks, in San Francisco, cell phone service was blocked for about three hours to derail the organization of a possible public protest. But should the Internet, and social media for that matter, come with an off-switch?

Just like many questions involving technology, the answer is not a simple yes or no. Of course, situations that develop can be complicated and made worse by mass communication aides, but they can also be made better. Plus, folks rioted and managed to organize demonstrations before the Internet, let alone prior to the birth of Twitter, Facebook, and Blackberry Messenger. The scope and speed is what has changed, not the purpose.

Here in the United States, a freedom of speech question surely creeps into the discussion. Should government agencies, namely law enforcement or public entities be able to prevent groups from communicating or organizing civil disobedience or peaceful demonstrations? Like in San Francisco, if safety is brought into question, that answer might be yes. Plus, the Bay Area Rapid Transit system set aside locations for demonstrations that would not affect safety concerns.

While the situation could be likened to the mass blackout allegedly ordered in Egypt by then President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year, he was disrupting technology purely for personal gain: trying to hang onto his authoritarian regime. Without a doubt, from his point of view, the Internet and cell phone blackout was completely necessary. In a world of 24-hour news coverage, instant Twitter feeds, and raw minutes old YouTube videos, simply switching the Internet and cell phones off is way to quickly unplug the masses from what is going on.

As far as events that might affect security and safety, an off-button is probably not that bad of an idea. The problem is that who decides when public safety is at risk and what situations merit that kind of tactics. Anytime freedom of speech is affected, which is a freedom not guaranteed in every nation of the world, Americans give something up.

The government should not be able to affect the flow of communication or data at the drop of hat, but sometimes people need to be protected from themselves. But who should get the power to determine when and where that need might arise? Or should terms of service for social media have specific rules preventing misuse?

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110814/us_ac/8962077_should_the_internet_come_with_an_offswitch

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