Preliminary Review of @ Is for Activism by Joss Hands

The title of this book grabbed me right off the bat, and the implied idea that the Internet can be a powerful tool for creating change.  I haven't yet read enough of it to give you a complete picture of the book, so I won't give it a star rating yet, but I will jot down some of the things I've learned so far:

This book explains the role that the Internet can have in protest, dissent, resistance and rebellion.  The Introduction reviews some of the events that have brought Internet activism into the spotlight, such as Twitter-organized protests in Iran.  Then Hands explains some working definitions of protest, dissent, resistance and rebellion.  In the chapters that follow he outlines how technology can work for activism, the power of digital authorship, the democracy inherent in a network as well as consumerist/capitalist influences on the net, and other topics I will overview later.

The part I found most interesting was Hands' explanation of why the Internet has so much potential for activism.  The structure itself of the Internet makes it perfect for protests and resistance. I'm just recently learning how the Internet functions, so for the sake of other newbies like me I'll give a brief, brief overview so what follows will make sense:
 How the Internet Works
Data sent online travels through Internet routers, which are like hubs connecting smaller networks of computers.  When it is sent, data is divided into smaller packets.  Each packet has an identifier code and a destination code.  The packets are not sent in a direct line from the originating computer to the destination computer, because no direct connection exists.  Instead, the packets are bounced between routers, which read the destination codes and direct the packets to other routers closer and closer to the destination computer until they arrive.  If a router is down, the packets are just redirected through a different one. Of course, all of this happens in just a few seconds, but any time you click a link to a new page, that information has traveled a long way to get there!

Why this Structure Is Important for Activism
This structure has several important characteristics for activists:

• Anyone can connect to the Internet because the protocols that allow your computer to send and receive data are universally available.  This means the network can keep expanding infinitely.
• Also, the Internet is very hard to shut down, because taking out a router just means information will have to be rerouted-- it will still arrive.
• Because information does not travel in a direct line, it is almost impossible to intercept it.  This means the Internet is nearly impossible to censor.

To quote Hands, "it is very difficult for one person or people to dominate or dictate what happens on the network" (p78).  People who want their voices to be heard online can send their message to a huge number of people.  Anyone who wants to participate can get on the network.  People who want to censor or stop those voices of protest or keep activists from organizing online will have a VERY hard time.

I'll flesh out this review later, but for now I'll end with a quote used by Hands from a Twitter user in Moldova during the 2009 protests against unfair elections: "North of Moldova TV IS OFF!!!  But we have THE ALMIGHTY INTERNET!!!  Let us use it to communicate peacefully for freedom!!"