Responding to “The New Digital Media an Activist Networking within Anti-Corporate Globalization Movements” by Jeffrey Juris
In his piece on digital media activism, Jeffrey Juris makes three points about anti-corporate globalization movements and their use of digital media networks:
- Movement networks are locally rooted, but global in scope.
- Anti-corporate globalization movements are informational
- Anti-corporate globalization movements are organized around a multiplicity of virtual and physical network forms.
The digital networks are being used by activists in order to “organize direct actions, share information and resources, coordinate activities”. Some of the benefits of using digital networks are the speed in which information can by shared, the low cost associated with the sharing of such information, and the geographic potential when it comes to reaching people around the world (195). When it comes to activist-hackers, Juris explains that the Internet has been “absolutely crucial” in helping them “carry our relay and exchange operations, receiving, interpreting, and distributing information out to diverse network hubs and nodes” (196). These groups have been vital in providing the world with necessary information on injustices around the world and organizing protests and social movements.
One group at the forefont of digital activism and digital hacktivism is the group Anonymous. In their last message “to the citizens of the world,” they ended by saying:
Much about the history of our species and this earth has been hidden from us. There is much to reveal. There is a great adventure ahead for those who choose to join us.
We are Anonymous,
We are Legion,
We do not forgive,
We do not forget,
It’s time for a change.
Their mission is expressed right when they say “there is much to reveal”. The purpose of these groups is to reveal the truths that have been hidden from the public in an effort to get rid of the corruption that exists. Hacktivism is effective when it is able to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people to protest for/against corruption. In light of the last nights presidential debate, I now ask: Is hacktivism always okay, sometimes okay, or never okay? Are there things that should be kept private for the safety of a nation? Or should all details always be released?
