And activism has become globalized. Resistance can be as international as capital itself. When in 1997, Western nations were preparing to sign an agreement which would have superseded national laws and given massive advantages to multinationals with little protection for workers or the environment, along came an activist group which actually read it and posted it on the Internet. Citizens' groups mounted a massive international campaign to ambush the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. Such leaderless online coalitions are a nightmare for the authorities.
Websites have eye-witness accounts, including video, within hours of protests, wars or disasters.
Sweatshop workers describe online their working conditions to North American campus activists. Armchair activists can join email lists on the 'Armchair Activist' website. Protesters can disseminate information around the world without first having to persuade journalists that their cause is newsworthy. Electrohippies can trash a company's ad-crafted image by the use of wit and expos . In 1994, the Zapatista insurgents launched the first cyber war as the Mexican army prepared to occupy their state.