CNN—February 11, 2011…“If you want to liberate a society, just give them the Internet,” Ghonim said Friday. Wael Ghonim was identified as a Google marketing executive.

I’m not sure I buy into the suggestion that Facebook (via the Internet) brought down the Egyptian government. Nor am I necessarily an advocate of “liberating” societies. If the Internet is truly an instrument of liberation then perhaps we should fear it. In reality it is no more a tool of liberation than the guillotine was in 18th century France. Society has always found ways to affect change throughout history. Revolutions, coups, overthrown governments, social and political upheavals are commemorated throughout human existence. Thomas Jefferson advocated regular reassessment and change: “Every generation needs a new revolution”. So I think it is a little arrogant to assume that Internet social media tools caused the downfall of a corrupt government.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free
PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader.

INCLUDED IN A DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP:

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.

Already have an account?


NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

PropertyCasualty360

Join PropertyCasualty360

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed decisions for your P&C insurance business. Join PropertyCasualty360.com now!

  • Unlimited access to PropertyCasualty360.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including BenefitsPRO.com, ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on PropertyCasualty360, National Underwriter, Claims and ALM events

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join PropertyCasualty360

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.