Center of Innovation: Science, Technology and Peacebuilding Weekly News Roundup, June 20 - 26, 2013 Table of Contents **Click here to subscribe to USIP's Media, Conflict and Peacebuilding News Roundup,
which includes a special section on Internet and social media.**
Iran Admits Throttling Internet To 'Preserve Calm' During Election
In an unusual move, Iran's minister for communications and information technology, Mohammad Hassan Nami, has acknowledged that the country restricted the speed of the Internet in the days leading up to the June 14 presidential election. "The reduction of the Internet speed, which some called 'disturbances', was the result of security measures taken to preserve calm in the country during the election period," Nami was quoted as saying.
See the full article (RFE/RL, Golnaz Esfandiari, 6/26/13)
Click to read "Will Iran’s Next President Be a Force for Change?" an Olive Branch Post by Daniel Brumberg.
[Return to top] UN Peacekeeping Commanders in Africa Call for More Sophisticated Military Technology
The commanders of two peacekeeping missions in Africa appealed Wednesday for more sophisticated military technology to stay ahead of armed groups threatening civilians and government.Lt. Gen. Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, the commander of the 19,000-member U.N. peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo, welcomed the decision to equip the force with drone surveillance planes to help new "intervention brigades" neutralize and disarm rebel groups under a more robust mandate from the Security Council.
See the full article (AP, Alexandra Olson, 6/26/13)
[Return to top] On Anniversary of Korea War, Cyber Fireworks Fly
As the Korean Peninsula awoke to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the start of the Korean War today, major government and media websites in both North and South Korea appeared to be under electronic attack. Seoul said it was investigating cyber attacks on the websites for the presidential Blue House, prime minister’s office, and a handful of major media organizations.
See the full article (Christian Science Monitor, Whitney Eulich, 6/25/13)
[Return to top] Egypt's Revolution Inspires Tech Start-ups
While the revolution eventually led to the collapse of a 30-year old regime, it has also had a lesser-chronicled impact - becoming a catalyst for a growing movement of technology start-ups booming across the country. Egypt's swelling mass of young, educated, and enlightened graduates are now working on changing the future of a nation byte by byte, not just brick by brick.
See the full article (BBC, Jonathan Kalan, 6/20/13)
[Return to top] Mobile Phone Usage in Africa may Actually Worsen Violent Conflicts: Report
Mobile phone usage has exploded in Africa over the last few years, spurring economic growth and human development even where traditional Internet access is limited. But a new study points to a surprising side effect of cell phone proliferation: It actually increases violent conflicts across the continent.
See the full article (International Business Times, Jacey Fortin, 6/20/13)
[Return to top] The New Digital Battlefield
North Korea has claimed a cyber-savvy force of some 4,000 expert-level hackers thought responsible for the growing number of breaches in South Korea and her allies. Over the past few years, the hacking initiative, undoubtedly more cost-effective than their supposed attempts at building a nuclear arsenal, has made it apparent the Communist state has shifted tactics away from military invasions and to cyber terrorism.
See the full article (Forbes, Vick Vaishnavi, 6/20/13)
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