One consignment of surface mail mouldered on the docks for a year.

ECONOMIST: Stamp duty

Now think of Internet electronic commerce as the e-mail equivalent of traditional commerce's surface post.

ECONOMIST: Eventually, bigger means different

With e-mail becoming increasingly searchable, messages that admit to illegal or unethical behavior can easily surface.

FORBES: What the Republican Candidates Teach Us All About Communicating

Jillian York, director of international freedom of expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in an e-mail that YouTube and Facebook generally are doing a good job of making sure videos from Syrian activists surface on their platforms.

CNN: 'SNN,' YouTube help amplify voices in Syria