Podcast Summary
Struggling with Effective Communication in the Israel-Gaza Conflict: Both sides in the Israel-Gaza conflict are struggling with effective communication, which is hindering efforts to find a resolution to the conflict and causing harm to innocent civilians.
Effective communication is crucial during times of conflict, yet both sides in the Israel-Gaza conflict have been struggling with this issue. In an episode of the "Click Here" podcast from Recorded Future News, host Dina Temple-Raston shares stories from Israel and Gaza about efforts to bridge the information gap. Addas Calderon, a mother from Kibbutz Niroz near the Gaza border, describes how her peaceful community was suddenly disrupted by violence. She was in her safe room when gunmen were right behind her door. The fog of war has made it difficult to verify casualty numbers, but it's clear that thousands have died and many are still being held hostage. The inability to communicate effectively, emotionally, politically, and technologically is hobbling both sides and making it harder to find a resolution to the conflict.
The power of communication and information sharing during a crisis: During a crisis, having a well-connected network and being proactive in sharing and seeking information can make a significant difference.
During times of crisis and uncertainty, effective communication and information sharing can make a significant difference. In the story, Addis, a mother whose family was caught up in a terrorist attack, was desperate for information about their safety and whereabouts. She tried to reach out to her ex-husband but received no response. Later, she received a message from her son, who had been taken by Hamas. Kareen Nahan, a professor and activist, recognized the need for information and mobilized her network to help identify the missing people. The power of technology and grassroots efforts allowed them to make progress in a situation where official channels had failed. This story underscores the importance of having a well-connected network and being proactive in sharing and seeking information during times of crisis.
Crowdsourcing information during a crisis: During crises, crowdsourcing info from the public can be effective for gathering accurate and up-to-date data, but challenges may arise in verifying sources and cross-referencing information.
During times of crisis, crowdsourcing information from the public can be an effective way to gather accurate and up-to-date data, especially when traditional sources are unreliable. This was demonstrated during the aftermath of a series of attacks when volunteers worked to identify the missing. They initially relied on military lists but quickly realized the inaccuracies and decided to create a website for families and friends to report missing persons. This crowdsourced approach proved to be their greatest strength, allowing them to gather live information from around the country. However, they also faced challenges in identifying people who attended a large music festival near the border, requiring them to cross-reference names with festival organizers, cities, and nearby kibbutzim. Ultimately, this investigative effort allowed them to build an approximate list of potential victims and gather information about their status.
Decoding blurry images to identify victims: Interdisciplinary collaboration and human expertise are crucial for solving complex problems, even when technology seems to fall short.
Advanced technology and human intelligence working together can lead to remarkable results, especially when faced with complex and interdisciplinary challenges. During a counter-terrorism operation at a music festival, investigators had to decode blurry, sideways, or partially obscured images to identify potential victims. They developed algorithms to unblur photographs, recognize faces based on unique body features, and cross-referenced information with Hamas's social media posts. The team, led by Corinne Nochan, was able to identify almost everyone at the festival by leveraging the collective intelligence and creativity of the diverse group of scholars and professionals in the room. This success underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the role of human expertise in solving complex problems, even when technology seems to fall short.
Balancing privacy and crisis response: In extreme circumstances, privacy and digital rights may need to be set aside for the greater good, but this delicate balance requires careful consideration and understanding of the situation.
During times of crisis, ethical and legal boundaries can be pushed in order to obtain vital information and bring about resolution. However, this is a delicate balance that requires careful consideration and a clear understanding of the situation at hand. The woman in the podcast, who is a privacy advocate, had to switch her perspective and support a large-scale Internet scraping project to help locate missing people during a disaster in Israel. Despite her usual advocacy for digital rights and privacy, she recognized the urgency and necessity of the project. It's important to remember that while these actions may be justified in extreme circumstances, they should not be taken lightly and should always be weighed against the potential consequences. The podcast also highlights the importance of grassroots campaigns and the role of organizations like the BBC in providing information and stories that connect us beyond borders.
Internet and phone outages during Gaza conflict: Despite Israel being initially blamed, fuel shortages caused Internet and phone outages during the Gaza conflict. Creative methods were used to stay connected, but unpredictable outages left people feeling helpless and anxious.
During the conflict between Israel and Hamas, residents in the Gaza Strip faced not only air strikes and house-to-house fighting but also struggled with basic communication due to frequent Internet and phone outages. These outages initially seemed to be caused by Israel, but fuel shortages were later cited as the real reason. Palestinians found creative ways to stay connected, such as recording answers to questions and sending them back. The Internet blackouts left families and friends outside of Gaza fearing the worst, leading to anxious and fearful reactions when the connection was restored. The unpredictable nature of the Internet outages left people feeling like their connection was being controlled at will.
Intentional disconnection in Gaza affects internal communication: The deliberate shutting down of Internet and phone services in Gaza disrupts both external and internal communication, hindering access to essential services and obscuring the truth.
The deliberate shutting down of Internet and phone services in the Gaza Strip, even on an already struggling infrastructure, has a significant impact beyond just limiting communication in and out of the area. This intentional disconnection not only prevents external communication but also hinders internal communication, making it difficult for people to call each other or access essential services. Associate Professor Helga Tawil Sari explains that this has been a recurring issue, and even during peaceful times, connectivity in Gaza is patchy due to outdated infrastructure. However, the purposeful shutting off of the Internet, as witnessed during conflicts, adds an extra layer of chaos and fear, obscuring the truth and making it harder for the world to understand the situation on the ground. Bashar Shaheen, a marketing executive from Saudi Arabia, recognized this issue and took action by organizing a global team of translators during a previous conflict to help disseminate information and shed light on the situation.
Creatively using technology to overcome communication challenges in Gaza: Innovative thinking led to the use of eSIMs, transforming nonfunctioning phones into connectable devices, providing relief to those in Gaza during communications crises.
Innovative solutions can make a significant impact, even in challenging circumstances. During communications issues in Gaza, Bashar Al-Zaidan considered using Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network but realized it wasn't an option due to Gaza's closure. Instead, he discovered eSIMs, a technology that turns a nonfunctioning phone into one that can connect to different networks by scanning a QR code. Bashar tweeted about his plan and received an overwhelming response, leading him to send hundreds, then thousands, of eSIMs to Gaza. The initiative was met with gratitude from the community, who expressed relief at being able to make calls and connect with the outside world. This simple yet effective solution highlighted the importance of thinking creatively and leveraging technology to address complex challenges.
The Power of Communication During War: Effective communication, even through imperfect technology, can provide comfort and reassurance during times of conflict.
Learning from the discussion on the "Click Here" podcast episode featuring Dean and Temple Rasten is the importance of communication during times of war, even if the technology used isn't perfect. Half a dozen people in Central Gaza shared that their eSIMs didn't work due to their distance from working networks in Egypt or Israel. However, the ability to hear a familiar voice on the other end of the phone can provide comfort and reassurance in uncertain times. It's a reminder of the power of connection, especially during times of conflict. The "Click Here" podcast, which covers cyber and intelligence topics, releases new episodes every Tuesday and can be found on various podcast platforms. As we approach the new year, stay tuned for more insightful content.
