Technology can be a curse and cure.
We were remained of this axiom in five ways following the the terrorist ISIS attacks last week in Paris that ended with the death of 129 people,
1. Plot Attacks – Law enforcement and national security are blaming end-t0-end encryption technology and apps like Signal, Wicker and Telegram for making it possible for the terrorists to communicate with each other and not be tracked by National Security Administration and other government watch groups. Islamic State militants that carried out the Paris attack are said to have used those apps the same way as the group that downed a Russian jet in the Sinai Peninsula that killed 224 people.
On the other side of terrorism, technology was used to connect victims and those needing help with family, friends and help.
2. Connect With Loved Ones – Within hours of the series of attacks in Paris on Friday, November 13, Facebook introduced a service that would let people check in and let their friends and family know they were okay.
3. Show Solidarity: Facebook also allowed users change their Facebook profile for a short period to show solidarity. It was the first time the temporary provide service, announced this Summer, was widely used.
4. Offer Immediate Help: Ad hoc, using the hashtag #porteouverte, Parisians used social media to let those looking for shelter in the city find a place to stay or know who was willing to open up their homes.
4. Be a Good Business – Other Social Media and Online companies stepped up to help. Google offered free international calls to Paris using its voice services; Uber disconnected its surge pricing so Parisians don’t get charged too when the company’s increased price for high demand situations kick in; and AirBnb asked members to extend time for guests to stay or offer homes.
Tech is mainly good but it can easily be manipulated for bad, as we all know.
