Spin Has Global Implications
We think about a few things: first, how every single day there are more and more examples of what a colossal global economy we have and second, how very often it’s still about the money. But then, as I read on, I realized that a story like this wouldn’t be complete without some good spin.
One of the best parts about this love fest we have with words is how useful they are in framing a story. After the first paragraph, I was anxious to see what the spokespeople at these American firms would say, how they’d respond. When we were collectively witnessing the happenings in Egypt weren’t we stunned that the government there was blocking its citizens’ access to the Internet? And weren’t we cheering these same citizens on as we read one Tweet after another and, together, witnessed history and the strength of and truth of freedom?
And now we come to discover that the very same governments have contract with firms that help them keep the restless citizenry down. Anyone in PR or who conducts communications for a business, small or large, should be concerned about this if only to pay close attention to the way language is used to shape international opinion. According to a Wall Street Journal article reporting on this, “A regulator in Bahrain, which uses McAffe’s SmartFilter product, says the government is planning to switch soon to technology from U.S.-based Palo Alto Networks Inc. It promises to give Bahrain more blocking options and make it harder for people to circumvent censoring.”
Phew.
So, what about that language I mentioned? Some of the companies cited in the article claim that they don’t sell they products to governments in the business of locking people out of the Internet. And even though the general counsel for Websense Inc. said in 2009 that sometimes things fall through the cracks, you still have to wonder what these firms are going to do next. Conflict of interest (in certain values) comes to mind, but clearly it’s much more complicated than that. I get it; there are salaries to be made and bottom lines to be met.
But back to the interesting subtleties of language. We’ve got “slip through the cracks,” and the additional words from Ahmed Aldoseri, a Bahrain official in support (big surprise) of censorship—according to the article he says, “Freedom of speech is guaranteed . . . ‘as long as it remains within general politeness.’ “
Of course what you and I might consider polite could be enough to toss someone else behind bars.
For some of my own brand short and sweet spin, please follow me on Twitter @LeslieLevine.
