The readings from Tufekci’s Twitter and Teargas explores the implications and impact of modern day digital technologies on social and political movements. Through an examination of the events that occurred during the Arab Spring, she presents a nuanced analysis of the affordances and limitations of online platforms in the organization and execution of protests. An interesting highlight from Ch. 5 is the reductionist view of the role of technology that many journalists held, i.e. that of technodeterminism. In contrast, she highlights the several levels of analyses that should be undertaken when investigating the role of tech in social movements. Her discussion on the four types of causation was particularly interesting, especially when she discusses the difference between necessary and sufficient causes to an event. Ultimately, the complex relationship between technology and social behaviour necessitates a multilevel analysis of the affordances provided by technology and its design – people create technology, which in turn alters spatiotemporal structures of society.

 

The excerpt from Schneier’s Data and Goliath was intriguing in its urgent tone. He highlights the very intimate nature of surveillance which our phones provide to carriers. The personalized location tracking offers unprecedented amounts of data to companies, to be leveraged by governments and security agencies. Beyond our mobile phones, however, Schneier discusses the implicit bargain that is made between users and most modern technology: consumers get free service in exchange for their data. Often, this is done for convenience purposes, with little thought given to the potential implications. The problem, however, as Schneier notes, is that mass surveillance (as in its current form) is highly dangerous. Governments and businesses have amassed huge amounts of data, which can be used to discriminate against and control individuals.

 

A relevant example of this mass surveillance in action is explored in the documentary Citizen Four. Snowden reveals insider information regarding the US National Security Agency and its illegal tracking practices. An intensely political situation, the film reveals the reality of modern mass surveillance, raising questions on what should be done in response to the extent of data collection that occurs at the hands of powerful corporations and entities.