[Cho:] The power of social media, it fueled riots in London, sparked protests in Syria, and helped lead a revolution in Egypt. We take a global look now at social media and its impact, starting in San Francisco, where metro transit police blocked online communications to stop a protest. Here's Dan Simon.
[Dan Simon, Cnn Correspondent:] We're at a BART station in downtown San Francisco. And the saga al began when protestors threatened to disrupt passenger trains and put a wrinkle in the commute for thousands of people who rely on BART on a daily pay sis. That prompted BART to shut down the cell phone communication on several of its platforms. They thwarted the protest but it angered BART critics, including the hacking group Anonymous. It hacked into a BART website and since then they've been on the defensive and said it had to shut down the cell phones because it was a matter of public safety. BART meanwhile has been battling an image problem. There have been a couple of shootings involving its police officers. The most recent one occurred last month when officers shot and killed a homeless man who was allegedly carrying a knife. That's what's prompted a flurry of protests and everything that's followed. Dan Simon, CNN, San Francisco.
[Atika Shubert, Cnn International Correspondent:] Here in Britain, we've already had two people sentenced to four years in prison for inciting a riot very a Facebook. Social media played a critical role. We know that Twitter and blackberry messenger were two of the ways that rioters organized some of the looting online. It was considered such a threat that Prime Minister Cameron told lawmakers he was consulting with police to see whether or not it was appropriate to stop communication on social media if there was any evidence of plotting disorder, violence, or criminality. As you can imagine, a tremendous backlash from critics who said that would be a violation of free speech. I'm Atika Shubert in London.
[Ben Wedeman, Cnn Senior Correspondent:] The authorities in the U.K. and elsewhere might think that shutting down communications networks is a good way to bring unruly elements back under control. But before they touch that kill switch, a cautionary tale from Egypt. For five days during the revolution here, the former regime shut down the cell phone networks and the Internet for five days, hoping to nip the revolution in the bud. But it was a blunt weapon that hurt friend and foe alike. It damaged the Egyptian economy, damaged its reputation, and for many people who had been sitting on the fence, it convinced them that the regime was willing to do anything, even bring the country to a screeching halt in order to hold on to power, power which, of course, in the end, it lost. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Cairo.
[Arwa Damon, Cnn International Correspondent:] The Syrian government regularly monitors and tries to regulate communication, taps phone lines. And this is not even something that it necessarily tries to hide. State-run television has broadcast what it said were secret phone calls between activists. Activists for their part, fully aware of this, often will only make a brief phone call on their cell phones or send a quick text message before they remove the battery to make it more difficult to trace them. When it comes to military operations, we've regularly seen the government shut off the internet, land lines, cell phones as well. So activists developed a smuggling network to try to get satellite phones and other technology to various areas under siege to continue to get their message out and post the videos that we keep seeing emerging on YouTube. When it comes to the internet, interestingly, the government unblocked access to social media sites like Facebook. Activists say it's so they can continue to spy on them on-line. Either way, despite the government's effort to try to control communications, activists have always found ways to circumvent the government's various blockades and efforts. And demonstrations most certainly have not let up. Arwa Damon, CNN, Beirut.
[Cho:] That's a look at how social media is perceived around the world. The men convicted of brutally murdering three young boys in a satanic ritual get what they've been fighting for, for 18 years, their freedom. We'll take you live to Arkansas for the latest on the West Memphis Three, next.