Would you join a Facebook-style Occupy social network?

Jose Crespo, of Puerto Rico, uses his laptop during the Occupy Puerto Rico protest in October. Tech-savy activists are hoping to connect people like Crespo in a Facebook-style social network for the Occupy movement (Ricardo Arduengo/Associated Press).

Occupy activists are developing their own social network, where friends would be comrades and members might request solidarity.

"I don't want to say we're making our own Facebook, but we're making our own Facebook," said Ed Knutson, a web and mobile app developer, in a remark carried widely by media.

Knutson is part of a team of tech-savy activists who are building the new social network. Although the site is still in its early stages, activists are drawing up familiar features, such as status updates, and have even pitched names for the network, such as Global Square.

Social media has played a central role in the Occupy movement: Twitter hashtags - such as the recent #occupytheports - have helped disparate groups co-ordinate. YouTube videos have exposed instances of violence against dissidents. Facebook has been a place to regroup, especially as Occupy encampments were torn down.

But the activists are aware that mainstream privacy policies may not be enough to protect their communications, especially as officials wrangle with site administrators for access.

"We don't want to trust Facebook with private messages among activists," said Knutson.

The site is meant to be a better platform for the decentralized, leaderless movement.

"We have found the existing social media to be increasingly restrictive in their functionality," said activist Jérôme E. Roos in an article about Global Square.

"What we need, at this point, is a platform that allows us to radically democratize our global organizational efforts."

Roos said the platform may include features such as:

• An interactive map that lists all ongoing assemblies around the world.
• A search option allowing users to find squares, events and working groups.
• An aggregated news feed that lists the most relevant 'status updates' shared by the various assemblies.
• Individual 'pages' for each local square/assembly.
• A public and private messaging system.
• A way to pose ideas and votes on proposals.
  

Protesters have been gathering outside the physical encampments that spouted up around the world, most of which are now defunct. Many seek a more permanent and sovereign space online in order to maintain the momentum of the movement.

What do you think of the "Global Square" concept? Would such a network be easy to infiltrate? Can you think of possibilities and pitfalls?

(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)