BART in San Francisco Cuts Cell Service to Avoid Protest

Technology control challenges freedom of speech

The past year has been monumental in showing the power of social media and cell phones as mobilization tools. From Facebook’s central role in the Arab Spring, to the more recent use of BBM and Twitter in the London riots, it is clear that logging in has become a new mode of resistance. Some fearful leaders are trying to figure out how to clamp down on those using these tools against the state.

This week alone, English Prime Minister David Cameron said he wanted to speak with tech giants about how to gain control over social media and communication hubs, should a riot threat once again present itself.

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