Cell Phones: Tools for Terrorists and Assets for Aid Workers

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May 28, 2010Cori Dauber, an Associate Professor of Communication Studies and of Peace, War, and Defense at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Josh Nesbit, the Executive Director of FrontlineSMS:Medic, joined us to discuss the changing role of communications technology and both its beneficial and detrimental impact on human security.

The discussion focused on the following questions: How has the advancement of communication technology and its inexpensive distribution worldwide changed the human security landscape? How have terrorist groups optimized the proliferation of cell phones and video recording technology, and how should the U.S. military respond? How does access to cell phones and text messaging in remote, poor locations improve the delivery of humanitarian aid and how can these tools continue to be leveraged?

Security for a New Century is a nonpartisan discussion group for Congress. We meet regularly with U.S. and international policy professionals to discuss the post-Cold War and post-9/11 security environment. All discussions are off-the-record. It is not an advocacy venue. For more information, please call Mark Yarnell at (202) 224-7560 or write to [email protected].

 

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