It is reported today that Egyptian authorities forced Vodafone to broadcast government-scripted text messages to its subscribers during the protests that have recently rocked the country. Allegedly, the text appeals to the country's "honest and loyal men to confront the traitors and criminals and protect our people and honor." The telephone company said the texts had been scripted by Egyptian authorities who invoked emergency rules to draft the messages. Other mobile phone companies are also accused of spreading the same messages.
The use of text messaging is a novel government strategy against civil protests. It differs from the traditional message broadcasts done by government authorities through television and radio.
Unlike the traditional mass media, text messaging, I think, is more personal because it directly reaches its target receivers. Messages are received by the person speedily, wherever he may be. For these reasons, I wouldn’t even be surprised if this medium will turn out to be more effective in persuading the citizens than mass media broadcasts.
Interestingly, this situation needs to be considered as potential subject of future legislation because the unregulated governmental use of a supposedly neutral medium may pose violations to laws protecting the economic, political and civil rights of the people.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110203
Entry No. 11
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