hacking bin laden

The Washington Post reports that independent websites are outstripping the U.S. government’s ability to access bin Laden’s latest video releases. Not only has al Qaeda’s distribution – through video, audio and cell phones – become more sophisticated, but its internet capacity seems to have dramatically expanded; according to the article, 650 sites launched the broadcast within 48 hours.

These two phenomenon compose one overriding suggestion: rather than attempt to criminalize hacking and centralize internet intelligence gathering in official agencies, the U.S. government should recognize the decentralized nature of the information society and enlist independent analysts (or at least give them room to operate) in the cyber-war with al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.