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Journalism of Courage
Kapil Sibal,Union minister for communications and information technology,caused great consternation when he declared his intention to scour the Web of objectionable content. He showed reporters choice examples of material that maligned Islam,the PM and Sonia Gandhi,among others,and insisted that companies like Facebook,Google,Twitter,etc,make sure they conform to Indias community standards and weed this stuff out themselves. He also reportedly added that he didnt mean automatic filters,he wanted human monitors. He announced these radical changes on his own,without even a pro forma public consultation on a matter that affects our freedoms so powerfully.
We know what Sibal means there is plenty on the Web that is cruel and twisted. Online anonymity makes it easier to express our vilest thoughts,and say things we might never say in person. Even on forums like Facebook or Twitter,you can find mean,misogynist,untrue and blasphemous things. But the solution that Sibal proposes is far,far worse,and is the reflex of tyrannies and dictatorships. It also shows his fundamental misunderstanding of the Internet that which cannot be censored,that which routes around all interference and any attempt to censor it means practically killing it off. The Web is simply all of us,talking to each other. You cant monitor it any more than you can monitor gossip,or climb inside minds and regulate private thoughts. People are,however,free to look away,or counter words and images with their own. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter,where this conversation occurs,already allow users to report offensive material or abuse and it is impossible for them to referee all conversation and penalise the nasties. Not to mention the philosophical hurdles in identifying the offensive what is gratuitous nudity or hate speech to you may be art and political expression to others. Of course,social media sites,now that they allow publishing and broadcasting in their fullest forms,will increasingly face the challenge of governments and regulators.
