4 ms·

I love when authoritarian nations just block internet. India did it in Kashmir for a fuckton of time, and it was practically unusable for a longer period (2G sp

I love when authoritarian nations just block internet. India did it in Kashmir for a fuckton of time, and it was practically unusable for a longer period (2G speeds). they also do it at even little bit of protests. How dare the citizens protest their own governments, no, no internet for you! ---- The world will be a better place without these govts.

spaceman_2020 3y ago
India is particularly trigger happy with blocking the internet at the first sign of trouble in any city or region. Makes me wonder what will happen to the internet - and politics - once generative AI tools are sufficiently advanced and easy to use. It’s already easy to rile up people with Whatsapp forwards. Imagine how easy it would be if the Whatsapp message comes with an inflammatory AI generated video.
- jeroenhd 3y ago
  It's possible that AI will make lies and propaganda easier, but we're already seeing plenty of people falling for obvious lies and clickbait. As a simple example, just look at how in the USA, inventor of the internet, QAnon has gained zealous, violent supporters, over a bunch of intentionally cryptic messages and literal keyboard mashing to form a "code". Look at the Reddit frontpage for an example of how easily people will believe the supposed context provided with a video. It usually takes hours for someone to actually check and comment "actually, this is a video from 2009 from another country" somewhere way down the bottom of the discussion thread. In private chat groups, this type of checking is almost entirely absent. Why bother using AI when you can take an old video, add a title referring to a recent event, and spreading it around on social media? Good AI is expensive, lies are cheap.
jostiniane 3y ago
Somehow some governments do it and go under the mainstream media coverage. is it because they got the green light from the bigger guys to do it? (I am talking about Algeria during the protests) Just to say, it's not as simple as authoritarian vs not, it's mote like, authoritarian and didn't get the green light vs not.
- ludston 3y ago
  India is the big guys though isn't it?
  - jostiniane 3y ago
    anyone that can be bullied into submissiveness isn't a big guy
fooker 3y ago
Riots fuelled with religious/tribal zeal can kill thousands in mere hours. Blocking phone internet seems to an efdective solution to this for now.
- lannisterstark 3y ago
  I'm sure auths justify it just the way you're doing it. I'm sure every authoritarian/genocidal govt in history has justified their heinous act with the same logic too. "It's for the common good/good of x people." Protesting is the fundamental right of a human being. the 'cause' of protesting is irrelevant. You could stage a protest to have access to everyone's mothers at all time if you'd like, that too would be your right.
nojonestownpls 3y ago
> I love when authoritarian nations just block internet. Much better to just have control over the popular platforms, have a revolving door between them and the government intelligence agencies, and do your communication control that way.
- lannisterstark 3y ago
  The problem with that argument is that I can still get access to content via subverting said controls. I have access to the underlying infrastructure. I can't when the entire internet infrastructure is shut down. I'm always amused when people go to lengths to defend authoritarian regimes. Pretty sure I am allowed to criticize the country I'm a citizen of.
  - nojonestownpls 3y ago
    Explicit control is in many ways better than this kind of subtle behind-the-scenes manipulation. It's more visible, easier to gather resistance against (yes, even under the control), and relatively easier to dismantle. To "subvert the controls" people first have to know they exist, and then go through the friction of subverting them, which very few people bother to do in practice. You can of course criticize whatever you want, have double standards, and call things "authoritarian regimes" with no idea what those actually look like. Doesn't make them so.
    - lannisterstark 3y ago
      > call things "authoritarian regimes" with no idea what those actually look like. Doesn't make them so. I'm Indian. My mother's Egyptian. I'm pretty certain I know what an authoritarian regime looks like. I've seen how the Indian govt has treated Kashmir. I've also seen how authoritarian Egyptian govts in the past have treated their own people. But sure man, lick more boots. Just remember, the 5 Rupees Modi govt is paying you for this comment won't earn you any goodwill from your fellow man you rat out on.

spaceman_2020 3y ago

India is particularly trigger happy with blocking the internet at the first sign of trouble in any city or region. Makes me wonder what will happen to the internet - and politics - once generative AI tools are sufficiently advanced and easy to use. It’s already easy to rile up people with Whatsapp forwards. Imagine how easy it would be if the Whatsapp message comes with an inflammatory AI generated video.

jeroenhd 3y ago
It's possible that AI will make lies and propaganda easier, but we're already seeing plenty of people falling for obvious lies and clickbait. As a simple example, just look at how in the USA, inventor of the internet, QAnon has gained zealous, violent supporters, over a bunch of intentionally cryptic messages and literal keyboard mashing to form a "code". Look at the Reddit frontpage for an example of how easily people will believe the supposed context provided with a video. It usually takes hours for someone to actually check and comment "actually, this is a video from 2009 from another country" somewhere way down the bottom of the discussion thread. In private chat groups, this type of checking is almost entirely absent. Why bother using AI when you can take an old video, add a title referring to a recent event, and spreading it around on social media? Good AI is expensive, lies are cheap.

jostiniane 3y ago

Somehow some governments do it and go under the mainstream media coverage. is it because they got the green light from the bigger guys to do it? (I am talking about Algeria during the protests) Just to say, it's not as simple as authoritarian vs not, it's mote like, authoritarian and didn't get the green light vs not.

ludston 3y ago
India is the big guys though isn't it?
- jostiniane 3y ago
  anyone that can be bullied into submissiveness isn't a big guy

fooker 3y ago

Riots fuelled with religious/tribal zeal can kill thousands in mere hours. Blocking phone internet seems to an efdective solution to this for now.

lannisterstark 3y ago
I'm sure auths justify it just the way you're doing it. I'm sure every authoritarian/genocidal govt in history has justified their heinous act with the same logic too. "It's for the common good/good of x people." Protesting is the fundamental right of a human being. the 'cause' of protesting is irrelevant. You could stage a protest to have access to everyone's mothers at all time if you'd like, that too would be your right.

nojonestownpls 3y ago

> I love when authoritarian nations just block internet. Much better to just have control over the popular platforms, have a revolving door between them and the government intelligence agencies, and do your communication control that way.

lannisterstark 3y ago
The problem with that argument is that I can still get access to content via subverting said controls. I have access to the underlying infrastructure. I can't when the entire internet infrastructure is shut down. I'm always amused when people go to lengths to defend authoritarian regimes. Pretty sure I am allowed to criticize the country I'm a citizen of.
- nojonestownpls 3y ago
  Explicit control is in many ways better than this kind of subtle behind-the-scenes manipulation. It's more visible, easier to gather resistance against (yes, even under the control), and relatively easier to dismantle. To "subvert the controls" people first have to know they exist, and then go through the friction of subverting them, which very few people bother to do in practice. You can of course criticize whatever you want, have double standards, and call things "authoritarian regimes" with no idea what those actually look like. Doesn't make them so.
  - lannisterstark 3y ago
    > call things "authoritarian regimes" with no idea what those actually look like. Doesn't make them so. I'm Indian. My mother's Egyptian. I'm pretty certain I know what an authoritarian regime looks like. I've seen how the Indian govt has treated Kashmir. I've also seen how authoritarian Egyptian govts in the past have treated their own people. But sure man, lick more boots. Just remember, the 5 Rupees Modi govt is paying you for this comment won't earn you any goodwill from your fellow man you rat out on.