In 'The Net Delusion', Evgeny Morozov challenges the optimistic belief that the internet is an unequivocal force for democracy. He explores how authoritarian regimes can manipulate digital tools to suppress dissent and control information. With compelling examples, Morozov reveals the dark side of the web, prompting readers to reconsider the effectiveness of online activism. As he navigates the complex relationship between technology and politics, he raises crucial questions about freedom and responsibility in the digital age. Will the internet be our savior or a tool of oppression?
By Evgeny Morozov
Published: 2012
"The internet is not a cure-all; it is an amplifier of both our greatest hopes and our darkest impulses."
Updated with a new Afterword “The revolution will be Twittered!” declared journalist Andrew Sullivan after protests erupted in Iran. But as journalist and social commentator Evgeny Morozov argues in The Net Delusion, the Internet is a tool that both revolutionaries and authoritarian governments can use. For all of the talk in the West about the power of the Internet to democratize societies, regimes in Iran and China are as stable and repressive as ever. Social media sites have been used there to entrench dictators and threaten dissidents, making it harder—not easier—to promote democracy. Marshalling a compelling set of case studies, The Net Delusion shows why the cyber-utopian stance that the Internet is inherently liberating is wrong, and how ambitious and seemingly noble initiatives like the promotion of “Internet freedom” are misguided and, on occasion, harmful.
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“The internet is not a cure-all; it is an amplifier of both our greatest hopes and our darkest impulses.”
The Net Delusion
By Evgeny Morozov
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Evgeny Morozov is a renowned author, scholar, and thought leader known for his incisive critiques of technology's impact on society and politics. His notable works include 'The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom,' which challenges the notion that the internet inherently promotes democracy, and 'To Save Everything, Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism,' where he explores the limitations of relying on technology to solve complex social problems. Morozov's writing is characterized by a blend of rigorous research, compelling arguments, and a provocative style that encourages readers to critically examine the promises and pitfalls of digital technology.
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