Online Warfare: The Battle Ground has shifted from mere propaganda from an obvious spokesperson to invisible hands behind computers using the social media to hit the targets.
I believe for sometimes that the next world war will not be fought using the bows, arrows, gun, bomb, missiles and other so-called Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), internet is the battle ground while social media applications will serve as the tools for destructive engagement.
One doesn’t need to fully understand the practice and concepts of public relations to know how interested parties have deployed the immediacy of intenet technologies to pursue a course of action and persuade the publics for rethink. The success of Barrack Obama’s electioneering, the revolt against Iranian authorities over the June 12 election and mass solidarity with Haiti earthquake victims, where development broght about by social media. There is a clear signal that almost every one seeking patronage and symphathy must use the online media platforms.
The recent outburst of Chinese government against US administration’s interference in Iranian election reconfirms the belief that the world today doesn’t need to shed blood through destructive tools to win wars, free flow of information and ideas through social media is a timely and effective option to engage perceived enermies (we may call it competitors in PR).
The only fear here is there is a strong suspicion that some countries and institutions who are at the advantage in the application of the technology are using it to manipulate the system in undermining others’ interest.
What could one say about the statement in an authoritative editorial of a Chinese newspaper that accuses the United States of using a “cyber army” to foment unrest in Iran? The Chinese People’s Daily goes further to add that “America was exploiting social media such as Twitter and YouTube to generate protests against the Iranian regime.”
The paper also condemns Americans’ freedom of expression by stating that “Behind what America calls free speech is naked political scheming. How did the unrest after the Iranian elections come about?” It doesn’t wait for anyone to respond to the allegation as it provide the answer thus: “It was because online warfare launched by America, via YouTube video and Twitter microblogging, spread rumours, created splits, stirred up, and sowed discord between the followers of conservative reformist factions.”
This decade starting from January 2010 will see how propagandists, spin doctors and the like, including the PR practitioners will join the battalion to the online battle field.
YAShuaib
yashuaib
