Programs like Facebook and Twitter are obligated to censor information at the request of governments intent on holding power in the face of public outcry. In Egypt, Syria, Britain and the U.S. users of those formats have found the sudden cut off of information while events are unfolding disturbing.
How to change that and make the communication format responsive to the people and not just another tool of the wealthy and the puppet governments they control?
Create your own.
Occupii is set up with your own page, groups can interact, news can be disseminated, and events can be planned
No longer will the whims of oppressive governments control what we see and hear. Out ability to express ourselves will no longer be subject to the approval of those holding power against the will of the public.
This is an idea whose time has come.
Social media has played a central role in the Occupy movement: Twitter hashtags - such as the recent #occupytheports - have helped disparate groups co-ordinate. YouTube videos have exposed instances of violence against dissidents. Facebook has been a place to regroup, especially as Occupy encampments were torn down.
But the activists are aware that mainstream privacy policies may not be enough to protect their communications, especially as officials wrangle with site administrators for access.
"We don't want to trust Facebook with private messages among activists," said Knutson.
The site is meant to be a better platform for the decentralized, leaderless movement.
"We have found the existing social media to be increasingly restrictive in their functionality," said activist Jérôme E. Roos in an article about Global Square.
"What we need, at this point, is a platform that allows us to radically democratize our global organizational efforts."
Roos said the platform may include features such as:
An interactive map that lists all ongoing assemblies around the world.
A search option allowing users to find squares, events and working groups.
An aggregated news feed that lists the most relevant 'status updates' shared by the various assemblies.
Individual 'pages' for each local square/assembly.
A public and private messaging system.
A way to pose ideas and votes on proposals.
Protesters have been gathering outside the physical encampments that spouted up around the world, most of which are now defunct. Many seek a more permanent and sovereign space online in order to maintain the momentum of the movement.
What do you think of the "Global Square" concept? Would such a network be easy to infiltrate? Can you think of possibilities and pitfalls?
Activists are also planning to create their own satellite networks to completely eliminate the possibility of interference by hostile forces.