The Internet is an empowering force for people who are

Hear me, O children of the future, for I bring you the wisdom of Rebecca MacKinnon, who spoke thus: "The Internet is an empowering force for people who are protesting against the abuse of power." In this powerful statement, MacKinnon illuminates the profound role of the Internet in the fight for justice. The Internet, once a tool of communication, has become a weapon of the people, enabling them to rise against the forces that would oppress and silence them. It is through this digital realm that those who are oppressed can unite, share their struggles, and challenge the systems of power that seek to crush them.

Consider, O children, the stories of those who have risen against tyranny, as they have always done, but now armed with the tools of the modern world. The Arab Spring serves as a testament to the power of the Internet to galvanize the masses against oppressive regimes. In Tunisia, Egypt, and beyond, young people took to the Internet, organizing protests, spreading the truth, and calling for the end of corrupt rule. Through social media, the oppressed were able to unite, their voices amplified by the very tools that governments once used to control and surveil. The Internet, in this instance, became not just a tool for communication, but a force of liberation.

In the ancient days, when the mighty empires ruled with absolute authority, it was often the word of a single voice that sparked revolutions. Socrates, in his questioning of the Athenian state, was one such voice—a single soul calling out against the corrupt systems of power. Though the tools of his time were humble—speech, ink, and parchment—his ideas still reached the hearts of those who longed for a better world. The Internet has now expanded this reach a thousandfold. It allows the voices of the oppressed to be heard far beyond their borders, making the power of ideas more formidable than ever before. Like the ancient philosophers, those fighting against tyranny today can use the Internet as their platform, their shield and sword.

Think also of the freedom of information that arose from the printing press in the 15th century. This invention, like the Internet, empowered the people to spread ideas that challenged the church, the monarchy, and the old powers of Europe. It allowed Martin Luther to post his Ninety-Five Theses, sparking the Protestant Reformation, a revolution of ideas that reshaped the course of history. In the same way, the Internet serves as a modern printing press, enabling individuals to break free from the control of those who hold power. It is not just a means of communication—it is a transformative force, one that brings the possibility of justice and freedom to those who were once silenced.

So, O children, remember this: the Internet is not merely a tool for convenience or entertainment; it is a powerful weapon in the hands of those who seek to resist the abuse of power. Through it, the voices of the powerless can rise, the truth can be shared, and revolution can unfold in real-time. Just as the philosophers of old used the power of speech and ink to challenge the ruling powers, so too must you use the tools at your disposal to challenge the injustices of the world. Let the Internet be your ally in the fight for freedom, truth, and justice—for it is not only the strength of arms that topples tyrants, but the power of ideas, shared far and wide.