Our Work
Client:
CISAC
Project:
Research into online political mobilisation.
Brief:
CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) wanted to understand how a well funded campaign in favour of SOPA and PIPA (copyright legislation), with seemingly overwhelming political support, failed so spectacularly to clear US Congress in the face of an online revolt.
Solution:
RAAK presented CISAC with detailed research on the events.
We showed them that although the entertainment industry lobbied Washington heavily, it was online and in social media that the most important conversation and mobilisation took place. Drawing on the work of Yochai Benkler, we argued that a networked public sphere had formed in opposition to the legislation. We reasoned that governments in certain circumstances can no longer ignore public opinion in the way that was previously the case.
Finally we recommended that to engage successfully online, CISAC needed to speak to the public directly and become more transparent in what they do.
