What Role Does Social Media Have In Foreign Policy?

As I mentioned here, I'll try to tackle the proposed SXSW Panel, "Global Innovation Challenges". And as I mentioned, I'll be using the Life Metaphor. The proposed panel questions are:

1. How are U.S. priorities established when exploring multilateral solutions in fora like the G8, OECD, and the ITU?
2. Who are the main industry influencers in this process in the U.S.? Is it different internationally?
3. Can the SXSW community inform the process? How?
4. What role does social media - Google+, Facebook, Twitter - have in foreign policy? Is the protection of online freedoms a U.S. priority?
5. Do you think the fundamental digital policy expectations are valid? Should they become a primary consideration when developing internet related policy?

I can't speak to 1, 2, 3 and 5. The first two are governmental in nature, and as such the only comment I can make is that this is where the bureaucracies in place are going to continue negotiating with the new evolution of the nervous system of global society - namely social media. As far as number 3, the best response would be, "advising those that establish U.S. priorities to take social media into deeper consideration".

Also of note - the United States didn't really demonstrate much interest in the World Summit on Information Society other than corporate interests - and in that regard, there is a definite gap that the United States needs to fill to assure 'Global Innovation Challenges' are indeed dealt with as 'Global Innovation Challenges'.

The last two questions I can actually write something a little more worthwhile about.

What role does social media - Google+, Facebook, Twitter - have in foreign policy? Is the protection of online freedoms a U.S. priority?

Social Media has a lot more to do with foreign policy than government does - on the Internet, every American online is essentially an ambassador. Regardless of governmental foreign policy, support for or against various things around the globe are felt through social media. Thus, when one asks what role 'Google +, Facebook and Twitter' have in foreign policy, the question is whether their Terms of Service enable better or worse grassroots diplomacy.

But there are deeper issues. There are international issues regarding copyright and trademark within the social networks named - and those not named - that have to be dealt with. There are issues of spamming, trolling and international fraud. There are incompatibilities around the world as far as law and interaction on the Internet - and those need to be addressed in a meaningful way outside of the corporations and through more governmental channels.

The protection of online freedoms may or may not be a U.S. priority, but I would hope that it is a U.S. Priority. If they aren't, tell me who to vote for so that they are.