Image via WikipediaDuring a speech on Thursday morning, President Barack Obama declared the official stance of the U.S. government over the role of technology in the the uprisings occurring in Middle East and Africa. He acclaimed all the changes that the role of technology has brought about and stated that this technology-led uprisings and movements have laid even more stress on the support of U.S. to ensure proper and free access to information on the Internet.
“In fact, real reform will not come at the ballot box alone. Through our efforts we must support those basic rights to speak your mind and access information,” said Obama. He added that “We will support open access to the Internet, and the right of journalists to be heard — whether it’s a big news organization or a blogger. In the 21st century, information is power; the truth cannot be hidden; and the legitimacy of governments will ultimately depend on active and informed citizens.”
He labeled that it was “active and informed citizens” who united and became so powerful to have the potential of toppling a dictator government of Egypt. Obama asserted that other “active and informed citizens” in the surrounding regions of Egypt within Middle East also have the same potential to accomplish similar outcomes. He vowed that “The greatest untapped resource in the Middle East and North Africa is the talent of its people. In the recent protests, we see that talent on display, as people harness technology to move the world.” “It’s no coincidence that one of the leaders of Tahrir Square was an executive for Google. That energy now needs to be channeled, in country after country, so that economic growth can solidify the accomplishments of the street,” he added.
The leader of Tahrir square which was actually tied with Google, mentioned by Obama, is Wael Ghonim. Ghonim was the founder of one of the Facebook Pages which led to the uprising, titled “We Are All Khaled.” Ghonim has also been entitled with the honor of his name being enlisted by the Time magazine’s for 100 most influential people in the world.
Summing up his speech, Obama resumed his emphasis on the basic technology. He announced that “We will help governments meet international obligations, and invest efforts anti-corruption; by working with parliamentarians who are developing reforms, and activists who use technology to hold government accountable.”
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