Livestreaming Shines Bright When House Cameras Go Dark

[Commentary] On June 22, Democrats staged a sit-in in the House of Representatives, demanding a full vote on gun measures. After House Republicans shut-down C-SPAN cameras, several lawmakers began livestreaming the protest via Periscope and Facebook Live. Whatever your thoughts about gun control, the livestreamed sit-in highlights the importance of open government, an open Internet, and access in this digital age. Without smartphones, the Internet, livestreaming apps, and rules to ensure that all feeds are treated equally over a network, many citizens would have been left in the dark this week. Non-violent protest, communication technologies, and social media combined to shine some light onto the legislative process, giving connected Americans crucial access to their representatives. Moments like these reinforce the crucial, democratic necessity of access to digital communication technologies, for both lawmakers,media, and citizens alike.