Creating a Shadow Internet in the Name of Freedom

As a rising tide of unrest swept across the Middle East this past Spring many authoritarian regimes in the region initially reacted by shutting down the Internet and social networking sites.
The tactic was used in Egypt, Libya and recently Syria. However, protesters have continued to risk their lives to broadcast stories of brutal repression and violence. Meanwhile, the United States has been working on creating a shadow mobile network, with the idea of providing a secure network for protesters. James Glanz, investigative reporter for The New York Times wrote a piece with his colleague John Markoff about these shadow systems.