Despite its attacks on online activists, especially on bloggers, in an attempt to combat utilizing electronic media for human rights and politics, the Egyptian government has begun using the same electronic tools, but for its own interests.
Mr. Gamal Mubarak, son of current President Hosni Mubarak and the General Secretary of the Policy Committee of the National Democratic Party (NDP), is about to launch an online forum named “Sharek” (means participate in Arabic) today, 12 August 09. The new forum will target Egyptian youth by answering their questions and engaging in a dialog with them in his attempt to win credit for his candidature for the upcoming Presidential elections.
Mr. Gamal, while campaigning for the forum, utilized several electronic media tools by launching a Facebook fan-page, a website, and will launch a YouTube channel and a Flicker account as mentioned on his website, as well as broadcasting the forum live on the website.
It’s very clear the Egyptian government realized the power of electronic media and will continue in utilizing it but only in its favor, in parallel with detaining and frisking Bloggers and confiscating their belongings.
