The Egyptian government decided to shut down all internet access for the entire country following continued political unrest. Officials gave no specific reason for the massive blackout but many assume that the measure was taken to quell protesters who have taken to social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to gain support and share ideas. In a global economy that relies so heavily on internet access as a means of commerce and trade, the effects could be felt all across the world.
Jim Cowie, chief technology officer and co-founder of Renesys, an internet monitoring firm, said, "It is astonishing because Egypt has so much potentially to lose in terms of credibility with the Internet community and the economic world. It will set Egypt back fro years in terms of its hopes of becoming a regional Internet power."
This incident has not only raised concerns about the economic fallout that could occur, but also potential human rights violations. Questions have been raised as to the people's right to free speech and the use of the internet being considered basic human rights.
This is yet another blow to the continual downward spiral of Egypt's economic position in the world. The internet's essential role in globalization is underscored by the effect its absence has on every aspect of a society. Without a constant link to the rest of the world, a country's economic structure in relation to the global economy will eventually collapse.
No comments:
Post a Comment