[liberationtech] Social Media Combatants

[Gregory Foster]

Australian Strategic Policy Institute blog "The Strategist" (Dec 13) - 
"Are social media users now legitimate targets?" by Chloe Diggins:
http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/are-social-media-users-now-legitimate-targets/

Diggins is a Research and Analysis Officer in the Australian Army's 
Directorate of Army Research and Analysis (DARA) Land Warfare Studies 
Centre (LWSC):
http://www.army.gov.au/our-future/DARA/LWSC

In the blog post, which is qualified as Diggins' personal opinion rather 
than the established policy of her institution, Diggins reflects on what 
is characterized as "Israel and Hamas' recent social media war":

> Whether social media is making an effective contribution or not 
> remains to be seen. However, by creating and perpetuating a narrative 
> that influences public opinion, social media is contributing to a 
> defined military operation and has become integral to the information 
> and communication space. As a legitimate part of the conflict, social 
> media (and its users) becomes a valid military objective.


HT @MartinHume via @cencio4:
http://twitter.com/cencio4/status/280420701599571970

gf

-- 
Gregory Foster || gfoster at entersection.org
@gregoryfoster <> http://entersection.com/