A Tweet Will Set You Free

Posted on July 15, 2008
Filed Under Media, Reading List | By Ester Bloom

Going abroad? Bring your iPhone. James Buck, a grad student at Berkeley, was photographing an Egyptian protest along with his 23-year-old translator Mohammed Maree when both men were detained by the police. Before falling into the rabbit hole of a third world prison, Buck sent a tweet that said, “Arrested.” His network of hundreds of followers managed to get him a lawyer and spring him within 24 hours. Buck’s non-American, less-linked-in translator, however, was not so lucky.

For months, Buck continued to use Twitter, his blog, the Harvard Crimson, and every other virtual tool at his disposal to keep the spotlight on his translator. Finally Maree was also released. Now Buck is working with the microbloggers to create a global network help line. Twitter: Saving lives in 140 characters or less.

(Source: CNN)


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One Response to “A Tweet Will Set You Free”

  1. State College PD Keeps PSU Safe in 140 Characters or Less : theprereq.com on July 21st, 2008 11:28 am

    […] University-patrolling State College Police Department is testing out a new alert system, powered by kid-approved microblogging site Twitter. PSU students can sign up to receive 140-character, byte-sized messages […]

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