This panel very quickly turned into a conversation featuring representatives from Al-Jazeera English, NPR, MSNBC.com, Reuters and other media organizations.

Social media isn’t responsible for revolutions. No one is arguing that here. Only 5 percent of people in Libya, for example, have Internet access. But it does play an important role.

The conversation bounced around from encryption software to first-hand anecdotes about journalists’ experiences in the Middle East. On the topic of training activists, everyone agreed it’s important to stay ahead of dictators who are using the technology to spy on and crack down on protestors.

“Dictators are learning from each other as often and as much as activists are learning from each other.”