This article will help me with my project because it demonstrates the value of Internet technologies as a democratic medium, similar to newspapers in the 19th century. However, this source will contribute to the purpose of my paper in disagreement with the claim that the Internet emulates associational life, where people came to freely discuss and formulate ideas, due to issues of surveillance and mediation form governments and corporations. Alternatively, it will help my argument by showing how certain aspects of Deep Web infrastructure (like Tor, and other private software) contribute to the true democratic value needed to be considered a public sphere.
Merrel, John. “The Deep Web is massive, unmonitored." UWIRE Text 17. 2014. UWire, a student journalism website, provides an example of how the media portrays the Deep Web, focussing on its criminality. Using language like “hidden,” and “secret,” this article shows how people are quick to stereotype the Deep Web as a home for technological criminals and hackers. Thus, the article will benefit the purpose of my project by showing why the Deep Web’s media coverage limits its recognition as a modern public …show more content…
Many of the videos recorded during the Arab Springs were uploaded to the Deep Web before popular websites like Youtube, therefore this article provides an example of Deep Web activism outside North America, as well as its consequences (deaths, injuries). However, instead of having clear negative ethical consequences, this benefits my argument because it shows positive areas of Deep Web activism, in which a public sphere of Arab people began a public sphere to identify issues of repression.
Sparks, Colin. “The Internet and the Global Public Sphere in Mediated Politics: Communication in the Future of Democracy.” United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
Focussing on the future of the genuine public sphere, similar to the purpose of this paper, the author finds that the increase in globalization has led to the need for a global public sphere. However, the author discusses concerns with new forms of public spheres being mediated through advertisers. Thus, while one can deduce that the surface web and many forms of traditional media do not follow Habermas’ requirement of a public sphere being free from the economic markets (like advertising), the article will benefit my argument by showing that the Deep Web presents an unmediated alternative. It will also raise