28-yr old nocturnal over@nal geekette Malaysian.
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Registering the blogsphere
A few days after the China Daily released news that the Internet Society of China (ISC) have confirmed that China is exploring adopting a real name system in parts of the Internet. Malaysia's The Star proceeds to report that our own Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation ministry's begun mulling over the same kind of bloggers' name registration.
At first glance, it's easy to deduce that Malaysia could easily be on its continual way in restricting freedom of speech and becoming a modern day communist-like regime. I mean, we can all understand why China is doing it. But why has Malaysia has long felt the need to control and curb its citizens freedom of speech?
Registering bloggers may be a “stricter” way to stop cyberspace writers from spreading disharmony and lies. ... Kong said: “We need to have stricter cyber laws to prevent these bloggers from disseminating disharmony, chaos, seditious material and lies. “We are talking about creating cyber laws to control those who misuse the Internet,” he added.Malaysia is not a democracy. We are a federal constitutional monarchy. We seem to be a confused lot, aren't we? There are so many grey areas and misdeclaration of the system, we have use double standards, and multiple laws to keep up with our multi-ethnic communities. Why can't we just have one and be united? We can't, because we're not mature enough to take responsibility for our actions and words. Hence the need for government control.
~Cyber law mulled to block lies in blogs, The Star
I agree that our blogsphere has so much uncontrollable information from individuals who don't take responsibility for what they write. Majority because 74% of our bloggers are under 25 and you can't expect the young minds to embrace the rippling effect of the Internet at one go. If such figures are right, then education should be the main factor of control and not suppression. If we taught our young Malaysians the power of the Internet and how to ethically behave online, then maybe some semblance of self-censorship and responsiblity will come about. On the other hand, the obvious political suppression that we face from being able to speak up openly about our government has long been reason why so much "chaos, seditious material and lies" exist online. Had a degree of transparency and acceptance of listening to its' citizens become a culture, then maybe the government wouldn't need to deal with so much crap.
"Free speech on the Internet does not include talking nonsense and not taking responsibility. Bad symptoms will be curbed," he was quoted as saying. ..."I agree that a registration of sorts will give the blogsphere some semblance of credibility in the longrun. Because individuals who reveal themselves will somehow become more responsible for what they write. Don't ask me about the psychology of why people become devils online the moment they hide behind the monitor and keyboard, but we've all seen it. And part of it stems from fear too.
~Bloggers must soon give real names, China Daily
Yet, I don't believe in the anonymity of blogs for the very reason I've been taught in journalism. If you want anyone to believe anything thing you write, you need to build credibility with your readers by some inkling of truth. Even in real life, you earn respect from people by creating a repertoire of experiences before anyone would listen to you. How different could blogs be? It works the same with mainstream media (MSM) journalists or writers. It's just a matter of different interests and the narrowcasting of information you get online with blogs.
And when the time comes, I have no qualms about registering and revealing my real name. Do you?
Comments
Tough question. The very idea that you have to register for the known purpose of being monitored goes against the idea of freedom of speech especially when it's meant to "curb" bloggers that break the "law".
Yet, you're right about the fact that anonymity doesn't encourage responsibility on the part where any yahoo can say whatever they want. Freedom of speech doesn't discount you from the responsibility of speech.
Surprisingly though, the blogosphere when exposed to the global watcheye, does tend to regulate itself. Because at the end of it, your readers now have the power to speak out, as you have. We have had example of this happening before on a local level. Menj would be one such case.
Edrei | December 3, 2006 7:06 PM
No problems with me. Hell, I write letters to The Star bearing my real name criticising the govvy. Why be ashamed about the truth? :)
Mei | December 4, 2006 1:22 PM
I wonder what happens to those that don't register, well if the whole registration thing happens la. How they would keep track. Scour every free blog looking for any M'sia trace?
But the important question is, will registering bloggers solve the problem? That people would stop speculating and spreading rumours. Why do rumours and speculation get spread easily?
Because there is no credibility in official notices. Not many believe in them. And there's not enough transparency to allow information to flow back and forth.
Which again begs the question. What does the registering of bloggers achieve?
BawangMerah | December 5, 2006 3:37 PM