New Media, Internet, and Control of War Propaganda

The BBC reported on October 31st that the US defense department, dissatisfied with its lack of control of new media and its use in disseminating news and propaganda regarding the Iraq war, has set up a new unit to better promote and monitor messages across 24-hour rolling news outlets, particularly on the internet.

With the advent of U Tube and the potential for the layperson to become a video or film journalist, it was only a matter of time before the Pentagon realized what Paul Virilio foresaw: that there isn’t a damn thing that isn’t eventually used for war. Al Queda realized this, and many other wise uses to the internet and possible technological feats, quite a long time ago.

Problems arising are: who (corporations vs. individuals) will control U Tube technology and its uses, and how this will divide along ideological and party lines on a national (U.S) and global scale.