[Chapter-delegates] Egypt and the future of Internet-enabled protest

[Imran Anwar]

Thanks, David. I left a comment:

====

Very good thoughts, David. But, I have questions on how quickly deployable or how practicable these solutions are today.

As creator and founder of Internet email in Pakistan, and co-founder of the .PK ccTLD, I am much too familiar with how repressive governments operate. The day I had announced the creation of the email system of Pakistan, running from my home in Gulberg, Lahore, I got a late night visit from the "secret agencies" of the always-corrupt, and always dictatorial even if supposedly elected, Government of Pakistan.

Back then 1200bps modems were common, and speeds of 2400bps on international calls were a miracle if not dropped. So, yes, there are alternates to government controlled TCP networks. But, in most of these countries, even the phone companies and landlines are controlled by the despotic governments.

I am still not certain how the ideas above get around the need for IP networks. Even the IETF page on mobile ad-hoc networks mentions that: "The purpose of the MANET working group is to standardize IP routing protocol functionality suitable for wireless routing application within both static and dynamic topologies with increased dynamics due to node motion or other factors." 

How would that work in a repressive government controlled location?

I am not saying solutions will not be found - but is there one that is doable this year?

Regards

IMRAN
Follow Me: http://twitter.com/imrananwar
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/IMRAN.TV
Web: http://www.imran.TV
Blog: http://blog.imran.com
Pictures: http://flickr.com/imrananwar/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/imran 



On Jan 31, 2011, at 8:00 PM, David Solomonoff wrote:

> I posted an article on the situation in Egypt, and more broadly, the future of the Internet as a tool for political activism, on my personal blog:
> 
> http://www.davrola.com/?p=76
> 
> I'd appreciate your feedback.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> David
> 
> -- 
> David Solomonoff, President
> Internet Society of New York
> president at isoc-ny.org
> isoc-ny.org
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Chapter-delegates mailing list
> Chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org
> https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-delegates
>