Saturday, February 16, 2008
Facebook and the FARC
A recent Economist article took a different take on terrorism and media. In class last week we discussed the benefits and drawbacks of the media with regards to terrorism. Specifically, how terrorist organizations benefit from new media like the internet, satellite TV stations, and cheap video production equipment and costs. This article didn't discuss internet anonymity or recruiting techniques, but how it can be used for counter-terrorism measures. Oscar Morales created the Facebook group "One million voices against the FARC," which organized marches against the terrorist organization on February 4th. Apparently, most Colombians are sick of the FARC and are standing up to them in some degree. 700-plus hostages later, the FARC no longer has the support (whether passive or active) of the public, and most people are blaming them (instead of the Colombian government) for the continuation of the hostage crisis. It's interesting to see another use of the internet...and one which doesn't benefit terrorists. Who would have thought Facebook could be a counter-terrorism tool--organizing over a million people to demonstrate to the world and the FARC, itself, a change in public sentiment?
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4 comments:
IT is interesting to see that both sides of the world can use the internet to mobilize themselves. Facebook is taking over lifes of many college students (having checked facebook before logging in here, I too am included). The ability to communicate across national borders is so lax now that a new culture is able to develop. I wonder how successful a facebook group could really be at stopping terrorists.
I can't believe the power of something as simple as Facebook. Of course having used Facebook and the internet enough, it certainly shows the importance of having a group that is willing to mobilize. I know I've joined a number of Facebook groups and usually there is little or no purpose to them. Now I'm not typically joining groups that are hoping to fight off a guerilla/terrorist organization that threatens my happiness as a society, but I have known a lot of rather passionate people that have been parts of such Facebook groups and nothing really happens. I wonder what really is the key to get this kind of mobilization. I guess that also goes to show some of the difficulty in the terrorists' recruiting process. They may very well find plenty that are sympathetic to their plight, but it probably is even more rare to find those individuals that will actually mobilize and take action. At least I can take comfort in the fact that those tools they use against society, society can use to fight back against them.
I can definitely see the benefit from this Facebook group in the battle against FARC; however, I can't help but wonder whether the exposure that such a group provides might also benefit FARC in a way. As we've talked about in class, terrorist groups can profit from media coverage, even if it might not always portray them in the most positive light. There were probably a lot of people on Facebook that were completely unaware of FARC before the formation of this group. So, even if FARC has gained negative attention, perhaps its leaders would be happy with the fact that it has gained any attention at all, especially in such a manipulatable age group.
Whether for terrorism or counterterrorism Facebook is a very smart place for people to utilize. Facebook reaches mainly college age students but it is also beginning to extend to adults and to people in high school and even junior high aged individuals are using facebook. Often times facebook is not something used occasionally, many people with accounts are on the site several times per day. Groups are something that people enjoy being a part of, it makes them feel connected to people with similar interests, desires, and beliefs. Facebook is an extending social network that can be used for many things, including terrorism and counterterrorism...who would have thought??
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