The war on terror and the global financial crisis have tilted the balance of authority on the side of the state, which the liberating forces of cyber space have only partially counteracted. Can the forces of liberalisation prevail over the forces of incipient oppression?
Since the terrorist attack in 2001 on Manhattan’s iconic twin towers, the world has been at a relentless war against terror, led by the United States. This has been a war that has been adopted by democratic and authoritarian states alike. In both cases, there has been a steady erosion of the rights of citizens, communities and other social groups, while the coercive powers of the state have multiplied. This has been justified with the argument that it will not be possible to safeguard the people’s right to life and property unless the state has additional capabilities and expanded authority to intervene in the lives of its citizens.