Andrew Gumbel eloquently analyzes the implications of ubiquitous media in this essay in The Independent. Already, citizen media is roiling the law enforcement world as crimes – and police responses to them – are captured on camera phones. From George Allen’s “macaca” comments to Michael Richards’ racist heckler-baiting, indiscretions are no longer secrets and they can change lives. This is still a nascent trend but it will become much bigger as the technology spreads. There’ll be a billion camera phones worldwide in a few years.

Be sure to scroll to the end of Gumbel’s essay for a nice list of viral phenomena from 2006.