Monday, April 5, 2010
Double-edged sword
I watched an interview on CNN last night with a Chinese artist called Ai Weiwei who has been censored and harassed by the Chinese government for using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to encourage younger people to post their opinions on social issues. The government uses these social networking sites to track down people seen as dissenters, can monitor these people and use their personal information to invade their privacy and stalk them. Ai mentioned that the government was searching his bank account details and hacking into his computer. Social networking sites give people an extra avenue to use their freedom of expression, but can also be used to monitor people's opinions and to spread propaganda. The government could spread negative information about people using these sites, posing as users.
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Shebley say...
ReplyDeleteI do agree on you Grish but there’s also situation where the public are using the social networking sites/channels in criticising about the government’s affairs. Somehow or rather, this will tarnish the good name of a particular country and indirectly will give a great impact toward the economic growth of that particular country. Nowadays, everybody wants to communicate but do they comply with the communication’s ethics?
Yes it is sometimes difficult for us (as a layman) to really understand what has been stated or regulated as “ethical conduct” but ethical values has been instil inside us since we are small by our parents and society. Therefore, we must not get involve with other’s affairs or personal life without having any consensus from that party. Same goes with the social networking channels where we are able to ignore any friends request if we do not feel comfortable with that person to be in our friend’s list.
Back to the issue regarding the Chinese artist, if I am in her position, I would lodge a police report and get the support from the human right association in overcoming this issue. It is all about the communicating in the right way in solving any situation.
Ah, so you're saying people using the site to post their opinions should perhaps consider the consequences of their actions, as a freedom of expression vs. responsibility concept? I hadn't thought of it like that.
ReplyDeleteFrom what Ai said, it doesn't seem like the police would do anything against the perpetrators since the government is involved. But I do not understand fully the situation in China and could be wrong. Putting pressure on the government to change strategies via communicating with Chinese human rights organizations and groups is an interesting idea.
Grish
Shebley say...
ReplyDeleteI would say that it's all about intercukltural communication where what is acceptable to us might not be acceptable to others in different countries with different plotical ideas, cultures and religion and vice versa. The most important thing is to be truthful and sincere by having all supporting facts and figures when posting anything on the social networking channles. We should be responsible on our won action and should take full responsibility in any mistakes.
Shebley, I respect your opinion, but we will have to agree to disagree on this one. If a large percentage of people in China (many of whom are youth, the future) want to be able to express political opinions on the internet without being censored, doesn't that mean there is a large part of Chinese culture that believes posting political opinions on the Internet is people's right? Does the government represent a country's culture more than its people? If people cannot argue with or discuss the government's policies, the government will have power without responsibility to the people in my point of view. Who decides what is an appropriate discussion?
ReplyDeleteGrish
Shebley say…
ReplyDeleteI do agree but shouldn’t it be in a proper channel such as a letter or memorandum to the government in addressing the issue? Then the government will definitely react and come out with a policy in solving the issue or at least it could open up the government’s eye in looking at that issue from a different perspective. The audience must have the guts to confront (in a positive manner) with the authority in solving the matter..not just by condemning the issue within an open channel but does not come out with a proper solution (written and documented). In my country, we would call this type of people as only “talking at the coffee shop”. Talk..condemn..talk..condemn..but what is the solution? Has it been addressed to the right person such as the opinion leaders? What is the agenda? If that particular person really hates the current government, however, it does not give him or her the right to condemn the government as we should respect those people in power. It’s all about having inner dynamism in communicating with full diplomacy then it will solve the problem.
Just imagine if a person is condemning his or her own country (Country Z) within the social networking channel, it will be read by millions of people and hundreds of governments from different countries. That particular person is just opening the “door” for other countries to intrude in their internal political affairs and to involve with their government decision making process just like what we are doing now. Should we let it happen? Do we tell others on the negative things which are happening inside our house? Are we convenience when our neighbors interfere with our family matters?
I think the problem is the different won't do anything if complaints are handled through official channels, or people who complain in certain parts of the world can face punishment. Social media helps the world observe what is happening, prohibiting any secretive unethical action against protesters. For example in a cerrtain country in the middle east people believe the last election was rigged, and there is evidence supporting it. Local people used twitter and youtube to send the essage out about the conspiracy they saw happening while it was happening. Whether there was a conspiracy or not, now the issue has to be dealt with and answered for, not hidden.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that the authority figures in power should always be 100% respected. If they break the law or violate the rights of their people who they are privileged to represent, there should be mediums to express dissent.
It is preferable for a 'family' to deal with its problems internally, but in cases of domestic abuse the Police or outside agencies are called.
Grish