Information accessibility has become a hit-button topic throughout the world in recent years. Technology has allowed people to gain information almost immediately during, or after a major event takes place. A prime example is the Arab Spring of 2011, in which uprisings occurred in several countries including Egypt, Syria and Libya. Citizens took to the streets in galvanized groups, protesting against human rights violations and a lack of fair pay. The entire world watched as these dramatic events unfolded on TV, and online.

Accessibility advocates gained momentum through the events of 2011. Social media became inundated with up-to-the-minute footage of violence and protests. These images allowed the protests to grow larger, as sympathizers watched the events unfold. In past years, much of what we heard about the unrest in the Middle East was reported through news agencies. While these agencies claim to be unbiased, we all know that they add their own “artistic flair” to these types of situations. People who had a vested interest in gaining information freely finally had an example to fall back on.

However, some people are against increased accessibility to information. They feel that it opens the doors to privacy violations. Some of these concerns are valid, but more accessibility can mean more money for small online business owners as well. Striking a balance between protecting someone's identity while allowing more people to gain information, is an issue many people are trying to solve.