Mumbai Terror attacks and Twitter's Coverage

I was just about to write a post about the Mumbai terror attacks and Twitter's communicative speed surrounding it, when I saw via his latest tweet that Mr. Henderson had a blog post on the very same subject. As I mention in my comment, I believe Mr. Henderson has spoken more eloquently than I can on the subject, so please visit his blog.

Via davidhenderson.com:

What I have been watching is how innocent people, many Americans, who are trapped in burning hotels or in hiding have been communicating with their families, the media and the outside world. Twitter has played a significant role in providing and coordinating essential and, sometimes, life-saving news.

With the Tweet Grid application or Twitter search page, users could watch the #mumbai hashmark as information flooded in. Updates on terrorist locations, what local forces were doing in response, cries from hostages, news from Mumbai locals, reports of terrorists being killed, links to mainstream media reports, word of hostage releases, and other eye witness accounts.

I have to admit that for the first time since 9/11 I felt like a rubbernecker unable to turn away from staring a horrible car crash.

What does this mean for humanity? Obviously, the matrix is abuzz. We have redefined the ability to communicate instantly, in large scale, across half the globe. That's great. Regular people were breaking news faster than professional reporters. We can clearly see Twitter's value as an emergency response mode of communication.

But is there also a danger here? When the Indian government allegedly pleads for Twitterers to refrain from sharing updates that may aid terrorists monitoring the site, then demands that Twitter shut the site down in India, is it possible for terrorists to actually use that in a strategy that works to their advantage? Say, by planting 'Twitterers'? Are there ways to monitor and control what information is shared without impinging on free speech or setting up the ultimate Big Brother?

I think these things will need some time to think about and digest. In the meantime, let's hope for a speedy resolution to the current standoff and offer our condolences to those who've suffered in the rage of this terrible attack against humanity and civilization.

For those of us in the States, let's be thankful today for the goodness we still have in life--and each other.