A technologist's take on Ukraine, Venezuela, and the Arab Spring.

The US involvement in in the Ukrainian protests is completely overstated. While I do not deny that some American NGOs might have provided help, it does not change the fact that the movement is mostly indigenous and self-organized and is an expression of dissatisfaction with the status quo that's been brewing for decades.

The actual situation is like this: as protesters become more educated about events around the world, they learn from each other. From the opposite side, however, it appears that there is some organized action "behind the scenes" guiding them. Yet it may be completely not the case. It's just a matter of people growing smarter. Yes, you can blame technology on this, but then (to be consistent) you would have to go centuries back and also blame Gutenberg, the quill, stone tablets, and so on.

Usually, when I say something like this, I get a reply from someone "but but the Wikileaks showed American so-and-so discussing with so-and-so". That's completely irrelevant. The influence of the State Department is not that great (in particular when it comes to countries that are not Iraq or are otherwise vital to US interests). Whatever help US actors have provided dwindles in comparison to the kind of money that is being thrown around by kleptocratic oligarchs to maintain status quo.