AudiencScapes

In November, InterMedia’s Ali Fisher was interviewed by Wilton Park’s Chief Executive, Richard Burge, as part of the London Conference on Cyberspace. Ali was asked to discuss what his research has shown to be exciting uses of the internet, interesting bits about the growing use of the internet and what the next big “thing” on the horizon is.

By: Caldwell Bishop

The latest political news from Russia has President Dimitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin swapping jobs again next year with the aim of sustaining Putin's personal power structure for perhaps another dozen years. In principle, Russians could reject this arrangement when they go to the polls in March 2012 to elect a new president, but it appears that Putin is still popular enough to get what he wants. As Russia's political opposition blows in the wind, some social change advocates look to the internet as a potent grassroots conduit for movements against monolithic government control.

The Arab Spring has brought attention to the potential for using
social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook to share news and facilitate activities
of those involved in social change.  But Sultan Al  Qassemi cautions against seeing these
tools as panaceas for oppression; he says that they can be equally effective tools for the oppressors.

By: Caldwell Bishop