The Washington Post said in its editorial on Wednesday that the belief in the early days of using the Internet in the world that it would have promoted freedom, and that authoritarian political systems may be to prevent people from using it or restrict what citizens do, but did not come to mind that these governments will use the Internet A tool for repression as it happens now.
For the ninth consecutive year, Freedom House's annual Freedom on the Net report shows a decline in Internet freedom worldwide, as authoritarian and democratic regimes alike are mobilizing cutting-edge technology to turn the Internet against the people through powerful manipulation, lying, fraud, and mass surveillance.
More than 3.8 billion people worldwide have access to the Internet today, more than 70% of whom live in countries where people are arrested if they publish information material on political, social or religious issues, and 65% live in countries where individuals have been attacked or Killings due to their online activities, such as Thai anti-government activists whose bodies were found tied to concrete in the Mekong River last December.
Beautify misleading information
Freedom House found that unscrupulous politicians synthesize misinformation and broadcast it to become mainstream through local actors such as celebrities of culture, art, singing and business poles, many of whom are being pushed to amplify conspiracy theories, and much more.
| " Even in the United States, government agencies have become more aggressive through their illegal searches to track social media for immigrants and immigration activists. " |
For example, she said, advisers in the Philippines are charging $ 580,000 for influence campaigns.
Brazil's presidential election saw the abolition of phone numbers to add voters to WhatsApp groups filled with propaganda based on their personal identities in their Facebook accounts.
In India, 1.3 million young men in the National Military Training Brigades were instructed to download a special application by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marketed as a source of official news, but filled with deceptive and controversial materials.
Automatic control
The editorial noted that Freedom House's report also focuses on "automated public surveillance" of China's highest level against Uighur Muslims, and even in the United States government agencies have become more aggressive through their illegal searches to track social media for immigrants and immigration activists.
There is also a thriving market for high-tech surveillance among the least developed countries in Africa and the Middle East.
The trade fair, which will be held in Dubai next year, will see the best technology from international companies, such as a product from Chinese company "Simptian" which can review the activity of 5 million people online for between 1.5 million and 2.5 million dollars, a deal approved by any dictator.
However, the Washington Post concluded its editorial that the situation could still be improved through community pressure on well-intentioned governments.