Dangerous Times Ahead
My other upcoming blog entries are still in the writing phrase, so I am not ready to post them up. What I momentarily would like to highlight, is some dangerous episodes which the blogosphere is now facing. The first has to do with Acidflask's unreserved apology to the agency A*Star. The implications of this episode is enormous, which spells that arbitrary judgments on what constitutes as "defamatory" could ride over anybody's blogging content. The other pertains to the maker of the documentary Singapore Rebel being probed by the police. It need not be said that the whole affair could be disasterous for any efforts to create artistic works that carry controversial themes (despite being told that as a media hub and society, we should welcome a diversity of views). Finally, there's the death-row penalty petition circulating here (and here) but also surprisingly, or what can be said to be a historical event (which is not covered in the national press) of a small protest. While we have no idea of how much that would have an impact, I would make a tenuous deduction that it might have an effect on this concomitant event (Death Sentence? Let Judge Decide). While no doubt our goal (the ends) should be the abolishment of the death penalty, just a shift whereby judges are given more discretion to decide on capital punishment is a very significant step. If the pressure keeps up, the methods employed (the means) should lead us closer to our goals.
Finally, there's the new blog portal known as Tomorrow.sg, which has been accused as being set up by a governmental agency (Tomorrow's defense is here). I will spell out the obvious here: it doesn't matter if Tomorrow.sg is truly part of the surveillance collective watching over the blogosphere, we were already watched for some time and will continue to be, regardless if the surveillance entity makes itself known or not. History has shown that intelligence agencies sometimes assign one of their watchdogs to assimilate into the target group to collect information and discover their weak points. If anything, this only means that our fragmented nature may serve as both a strength or a weakness.
Finally, there's the new blog portal known as Tomorrow.sg, which has been accused as being set up by a governmental agency (Tomorrow's defense is here). I will spell out the obvious here: it doesn't matter if Tomorrow.sg is truly part of the surveillance collective watching over the blogosphere, we were already watched for some time and will continue to be, regardless if the surveillance entity makes itself known or not. History has shown that intelligence agencies sometimes assign one of their watchdogs to assimilate into the target group to collect information and discover their weak points. If anything, this only means that our fragmented nature may serve as both a strength or a weakness.
posted by Douglas Evans at 6:53 AM
4 Comments:
"it doesn't matter if Tomorrow.sg is truly part of the surveillance collective watching over the blogosphere, we were already watched for some time and will continue to be, regardless if the surveillance entity makes itself known or not. History has shown that intelligence agencies sometimes assign one of their watchdogs to assimilate into the target group to collect information and discover their weak points. If anything, this only means that our fragmented nature may serve as both a strength or a weakness. "
Yes blogosphere has to awaken to this reality that the ideological state apparatuses (Althusser's ISAs) are not monolitithic entities which ossify into time. ISAs evolve and adapt and the State with its control of the technical infrastructure of society is strategically placed to enact the Panopticon into cyberspace.
But the nature of blogosphere and by extension cyberspace, presents possibly the greatest challenge to a surveillance entity because any such entity fears not a paucity in information but rather a deluge of information.
The rhizomatic cyber-population is placed to confound and to invert and to mislead but yet be able to strike a blow, howevever small on the body of Leviathan.
Oh my, Althusser and Deleuze in one shot. Have to say though that is probably the clearest piece of poststructuralist writing I have seen.
I probably will, eventually, publish another entry regarding my skepticism surrounding the optimism people have on the powers of blogging. What they don't realise is that a piece of technology, as useful and effective it is now, is nevertheless an instrument that bends according to those who control it. It may not seem possible now, nor in the near future, but the internet can be reconstructed as a "ideological state apparatus". As long as people remain blissfully ignorant of this chain of events, (in fact, the state would be glad that the people stay ignorant), there won't be any introspection on how to wrestle control of the tool itself.
Right now, the blogosphere may delude themselves into thinking that they themselves are acting as the "Panopticon" inside "Leviathan", but this is hardly anywhere near their ideal fantasy. We are only parasites that can be tolerated and sterilized in one clear blow one day.
Introspection on how to wrestle control of the tool, ahaha, I see some common ground here.
Control hinges on identity. In blogosphere and cyberspace in general, the mindset remains identity-centric.
Understand that skirmishes in cyberspace rely on spectacle. An army of toy soldiers ... and the first strike against Leviathan becomes possible.
Did the executioners in Iraq read Gibson? The otaku effect and the transmission of footage to strike.
There is a movement in Europe. The Luther Blissett effect. The null of identity.
Can surveillance technologies outpace the creative mind in a one-zero atmosphere?
skype problem
Hi, just wondering if anyone has ever tried SKYPE for telephone calls over the internet?? A pal of mine says it's brilliant and works out much cheaper than conventional calls, just wondered if anyone else has signed up for it?
Post a Comment
<< Home