Journalism of Courage
On October 25,the Election Commission of India issued detailed guidelines to regulate Internet campaigns on Twitter,Facebook and YouTube by political parties and their candidates. Candidates are required to provide information about their (official) social media accounts in affidavits. Some of the most commonly censored contents include pornography,social networks,Wikipedia,Wikileaks,political blogs,religious websites and video streaming. Heres a look at how different governments regulate how people,including social activists,use the Internet:
China
China has tight Internet controls. The main purpose is to stifle online political discussion and the use of social media to organise protests. Since 1996,the government has enacted a number of highly restrictive laws prohibiting publishing political commentary the government considers undesirable and so on. Twitter,like Facebook,YouTube and several other foreign Internet services and news websites deemed sensitive,is blocked. Instead,a micro-blogging service,Weibo,is available. China also issued new rules this year under which Internet users could be jailed for up to three years for re-tweeting posts containing defamatory content. China at present has over 300 million microbloggers,the highest in the world. The Great Firewall of China is the nickname for the countrys sophisticated system of Internet filters which goes by the official name of the Golden Shield Project.
UAE
In 2011,the UAE banned the use of Twitter,Facebook and BlackBerry messenger so that these platforms would not be used to spread rumours. Its new law prescribed three to 10 years imprisonment for people spreading rumours through social media. A new cyber crime law stipulates life imprisonment for anyone calling for regime overthrow through online communications.
Vietnam
In August this year,a sweeping new Internet law in Vietnam banned bloggers and social media users from sharing news stories online. Called Decree 72,it was signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. The decree stipulates that Internet users should not use social networks to share or exchange information on current events.
Egypt
On January 28,2011,Egypts decision to virtually shut down the nations Internet access marked an escalation in the growing battle between authoritarian governments and tech-savvy protesters. It also posed a challenge to the Obama administrations policy of promoting Internet freedom.
Britain
In the first two weeks of August 2011,Prime Minister David Cameron considered curbing the use of social media,following days of disorder across the country. However,many criticised Camerons idea to place a ban on social media,saying it violated free speech and privacy. On August 25,2011,UK Home Secretary Theresa May met executives from Twitter,Facebook and BlackBerry. They discussed concerns that thugs used online social networking to encourage others to join the violence,but the firms said they had no intention of restricting their service.
Iran
The newly elected administration of Irans president,Hassan Rouhani,has embraced Facebook and Twitter in a public challenge to online censorship as authorities begin to debate whether a ban on the social networking websites should be lifted. An increasing number of Rouhanis Cabinet members including the foreign minister,Mohammad Javad Zarif,and the oil minister,Bijan Zanganeh have become active online since Rouhani was sworn in,even though access to most of the major social networks,including Facebook,remains blocked across the country.
The move,which heralds a new era in the Iranian governments engagement with its citizens,has raised hopes of an easing of internet-related regulations. Rouhani has made public his opposition to Internet censorship,describing it as futile,but does not have authority to rescind it alone.
Cuba
The authorities continue to require a special permit for any Cuban wishing to access the Internet,with the permits typically given only to party officials and those working in approved professions.
Compiled by Nawaid Anjum
