Is Israel a World Leader in Web 2.0?

Newsweek seems to think so. In an article examining the uses of Web 2.0 tools for international diplomacy, Newsweek quotes Hillary Clinton speaking enthusiastically about the opportunities social media creates.

The kind of outreach that Clinton is emphasizing can have a significant payoff. At the height of the war in Gaza, Israel's Immigrant Absorption Ministry waged a campaign to recruit an "army of bloggers" made up of polyglot Israelis who could counter anti-Israel sentiment on English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and French sites. According to reports in Haaretz, after having registered with the ministry, the volunteers were directed to sites that authorities found "problematic." Volunteers could even sign up for automated alerts urging collective action in reaction to specific articles and polls.

Not bad considering Hillary's boss will be remembered for running the best social media election campaign to date. The White House's own effort remains a site to watch as the administration finds its feet.

Posted at 06:28 PM