Context
According to media reports, the United States is training pro-democratic activists from North Africa and the Middle East to spread democracy using modern technology. The “panic button” is one of the newest developments. The State Department said that the program could be uploaded to the activists’ mobile phones. If they are arrested, the application quickly deletes the address book in their cell phones and sends out warning messages to other activists. US officials claim that the technology is developed to protect pro-democracy activists in other nations. To ensure effective use of the program, America has held training classes for hundreds of activists. One organized few weeks ago in the Middle East that included activists from Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and Syria.
