Facebook and the FARC

A recent Economist article took a different take on terrorism and media. In class last week we discussed the benefits and drawbacks of the media with regards to terrorism. Specifically, how terrorist organizations benefit from new media like the internet, satellite TV stations, and cheap video production equipment and costs. This article didn't discuss internet anonymity or recruiting techniques, but how it can be used for counter-terrorism measures. Oscar Morales created the Facebook group "One million voices against the FARC," which organized marches against the terrorist organization on February 4th. Apparently, most Colombians are sick of the FARC and are standing up to them in some degree. 700-plus hostages later, the FARC no longer has the support (whether passive or active) of the public, and most people are blaming them (instead of the Colombian government) for the continuation of the hostage crisis. It's interesting to see another use of the internet...and one which doesn't benefit terrorists. Who would have thought Facebook could be a counter-terrorism tool--organizing over a million people to demonstrate to the world and the FARC, itself, a change in public sentiment?