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"The internet only talks about change, it doesn't actually achieve it"

| Monday, 9 Sept. 2010 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT

There are plenty of groups that exist to try to promote internet freedom. Access Now is one such group which promotes a 'global proxy cloud' to help people cut off behind restrictive firewalls get onto the internet through using other peoples' computers in countries which have free access. Kim from Access Now will be part of Monday's programme.

But is it enough just to give people access to information?

Do you think that all the blogs, website and forums about achieving democracy, or even just political change have worked? Or does it still take a lot more than just talk to bring about real change?

Your comments

  1. Comment sent via host

    That''s all from World Have Your Say in Budapest. Tomorrow we''re live at the Liberal Democrat conference in Liverpool. Discuss it here -

  2. Comment sent via Facebook

    Joseph - It has had very little impact here in Zambia because the majority of the population don't have access and besides, it is too expensive

  3. Comment sent via Facebook

    Brian Nkolola - The internet has changed society both positively and negatively. Business transactions are done swiftly and so are swindles. Acardemic material and other pieces of information, true and fake, as well as bad material such pornograph are easily accessed.

  4. Comment sent via Facebook

    Java Vamcas Kambala - Am not sure about the extent that internet had impacted on us in Namibia but with most of our youths representing about 70% of the population,and with almost every youth havin a mobile phone with internet access via broadband 3G, I can say internet has changed the way we live

  5. Comment sent via Facebook

    Mohamed Deeq - In my country kenya da technology had both postiv&negetive inpact.sure it opned alot door 4many pple spc learned&made our work easier u cn even do ur skul asyments&projects thr da intanet

  6. Comment sent via Facebook

    Otus Julius - the iternet is changing the way we do things. this change is gradual and so may not be so obvious. cost is however a hinderance to general acceptance

  7. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Dorothy in North Carolina emailed WHYS - It is factual information that is needed and that is much more difficult to obtain than simply voicing ideas.

  8. Comment sent via BLOG

    Tara in Montreal on the blog - In January of this year, a group of us used the Internet to organize a country-wide protest against the Canadian Parliament. It took us about 2 weeks to pull everything together. We couldn't have done it without the Internet, because we got very little press coverage.

  9. Comment sent via Facebook

    Paul Yeralpod - Political change driven by the internet? Oh please, that wont be happening any time soon in africa, uganda or kenya even if access & penetration rise to 90%. Stop dreaming

  10. Comment sent via BLOG

    Noel on the blog - Internet Technology is source of information just as it is a tool for disinformation. Common sense is key in navigating this sea of dissention and doubt.

  11. Comment sent via Facebook

    Joseph Chikweti - it hs had vry little impact here in zambia coz the majority of the population dnt hv access &besides,its too expensive.

  12. Comment sent via Facebook

    Nengak Daniel - we could only transfer our offline lifestyle online - if we havent be doing good things offline, we cant do good things online

  13. Comment sent via Facebook

    Ochieng Oloo - In kenya, internet is geting massive by the day. Many young people have internet enabled mobile phones and communication has gone a notch higher. Copanies like safaricom and zain are banking on data(internet) as the next big thing. Lives are changing

  14. Comment sent via Facebook

    Valerie Kalinso - Its wearing out our culture bit by bit because us who access it jst misuse it. technology wil make us 4get our roots soon.

  15. Comment sent via Facebook

    Renee Lynch - In Ghana Im using it 24 7 it allows me to view the world. The poor are not using it as much, but in Ghana many have in their homes and now the phone. I use my phone and it gives me the net at high speed.

  16. Comment sent via Facebook

    Andrew Luzze - It can be atool but with the most of the developing countries like Uganda little impact is noted thanks to the tax free to computers that now with facebook twitter many issues are discused

  17. Comment sent via Facebook

    Dee Kieft - The internet has really opened up many closed societies, but also opened the floodgates for many intolerant organizations to have a platform. the problem is that many people believe anything they read (it was on the internet-must be true) & there is so much information available now on the internet it can be confusing.

  18. Comment sent via Facebook

    Don Lovedog - the ability to comment freely doesnt affect anything ;thats why it should always be allowed.

  19. Comment sent via Facebook

    Prashant Sharma - In India it is generally used by media to provide or generate public outrage / sympathy on issues like corruption , negligence etc.