1992: Tunisia is the first Arab and African country to connect to the Internet. As politically-sensitive content becomes accessible in 1994, government begins censoring the Internet. Censorship becomes ferocious but young Tunisians, very handy with technology, always find new ways to circumvent it. The advent of social networking allows the exchange of experience and knowledge. The immolation of Bouazizi in December 2010 is quickly relayed through the social media. Amateur videos reflect instantly what is happening throughout the country ending up in a popular rebellion everywhere. Overwhelmed, Ben Ali is forced to flee. With the return to calm, Tunisians are drunk with the discovery of real freedom. Civil society comes out of its lethargy. Censured books return. Online journals multiply. Proliferation of websites enriches democratic discourse. People publish true and false news. They post their opinions on everything and everyone... a cacophony... until the October 23th elections. 2012: Fear is returning as the country experiences a new state of latent volatility. Tunisians recognize that survival of their social network skills is crucial. Under the current circumstances, censorship may reappear at anytime and take new forms but there will always be a way to get around it. Tunisian IT people who care about democracy are vigilant and ready to act no matter what might happen.
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