The Darker Side of Social Networking Technology

I stumbled across this interesting article on DoDBuzz and Wall Street Journal about how the Egyptian government (and other authoritarian regimes) hijack the networks of communication companies in order to rally government supporters against freedom protesters. Internet shutdowns are selective, not total. The governments in question allow supporters to organize while forcing communication companies to serve as their messengers and rallying points. Like a weapon, technology is a source for good depending on who is wielding it.