Blocking twitter handles is like
yelling "shut up" to a person screaming!
SANJAY PINTO
The guillotine for dandruff? That’s the
broad charge against the government of India for it’s attempt to clamp down on
the social media against the backdrop of rumour triggered violence
against citizens from the North East. Faced with a volatile situation, the
authorities were undoubtedly walking on egg shells. But by blocking twitter
handles of innocent but well connected individuals, the authorities ended up
with egg on their face; scoring an own goal, as the social media waved the red
card with somewhat justified ‘I told you so’ indignation. Not to speak of
sermons on how the government could have tackled rumours with information;
instead of going after parody accounts.
We do need to understand that the social
media emerged the way it has, because of disenchantment against the common
enemy - the ‘system’ – politicians, officials and even the mainstream media.
And when officialdom takes on this section that’s armed to the finger nails
with anonymity, it’s a lost battle from the start. Like Jesus said “he who has
not sinned pick up the first stone”; the social media is entitled to ask
politicians as to how many of them have made inflammatory speeches in the past.
What is their credibility to now preach to the common man? The malady is that
neither are the authorities tech savvy or quick enough; nor do they understand
human psychology to deal with this rather piquant situation. Piquant also
because there are vast sections on twitter who lack the maturity to hold their
punches when circumstances warrant restraint or to even suffer fools gladly.
To add to the circus are innumerable
self styled ‘cyber experts’ who vie with one another; or even hire PR agencies,
for their fifteen seconds of ‘fame’ on national television or to try a ‘quote’
marshall in the papers, just to spew text book sort of ‘solutions’ like the
constitution of a Super Nodal Agency or whatever, with some of them as members!
Blocking is often a cure worse than the disease. It’s like yelling “shut up” to
a man screaming! And the sms restriction that was by-passed made officials seem
too clever by half. Still, there were those who couldn’t get text alerts
on bank account withdrawals, delays in train and flight departures, stock
market updates.
I’m just wondering if it is possible to
monitor key search words and take quick corrective action. The Cyber
Society Of India has mooted the idea of India developing its own
indigenous operating systems, search engines, anti virus kits and
servers, so that we don’t have to rely on foreign powers for technological
support during an emergency. The suggestion on mobile phone number verification
for website creation or on social networking platforms comes from those
who probably have not watched ‘A Wednesday’! Identity proof is hardly foolproof
today. Everytime you get your driving licence or some other ID card photocopied
outside, how sure are you that an extra copy isn’t surreptitiously made
and misused? All that you need to get a pre paid sim card is a photocopy of any
of these documents! Physical verification of addresses based on identity proof
submitted, happens at least a fortnight later. Unless, in this case, twitter
has proper filters and more importantly, the will to keep out incendiary
content, a realistic golden mean between free speech and hate speech can hardly
be worked out.
Coming to the much bandied about
‘self regulation’ magic potion. It did work with the mainstream media
especially during the Babri Masjid judgment. The National Broadcasters
Association is a vibrant body that silently sets standards and tries to make
news channels adhere to a code of ethics. The Press Council Of India has a proactive,
well meaning but sometimes misunderstood Chief. Early in my career, I remember
Superintendents Of Police in sensitive districts informing journalists about
some statue of a caste leader being damaged by miscreants but requesting us not
to report it in the interest of peace. I know of many mediapersons who complied
in public interest. Because free speech is not absolute. And in a toss up
between freedom of expression and human life, the latter must always prevail.
The social media that has its legitimate space in a democracy must also show
restraint in a crisis. That will be a far better response to politicians than
calling them names.
(An edited version of this column of
mine was published in The Hindu)
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