While looking for something to write in this blog I chanced upon an interesting article written by Jeffrey Rosen for the New York Times. The title of the article is Google's Gatekeepers.
Part of the article showed the dispute between Google and the Turkish Government. The Turkish government blocked YouTube (which is owned by Google) because of contents that are offensive to Mustafa Kenal Ataturk who is the founder of modern Turkey (there is a law that disallows such insults and offensive remarks against Ataturk).
This case study presents a dispute that highlights the changes that technology has created with regard to the concept of free speech. At one point a person might say that the internet has granted him freedom. Freedom like no other- a new world that traverses the globe with relative ease while giving him the world as an audience.
Yet this freedom just like any other right need to be regulated. Or does it?
After answering that with a definite yes, an even harder question arises. Who regulates the internet? Should it be left in the hands of those website companies that we choose to use? Companies that keep track of every web searches that we make? and of every videos that we view? Companies that have their own interest.
I guess at the moment I'd acquiesce to the website company's voluntary self-regulation (consistent with the Global Network Initiative that helps promote and protect global free expression and privacy) . . I still trust them but this lasts only so long as the threat is not yet deemed apparent.
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Baguilat, Ice 06-78921
03 December 2008
Part of the article showed the dispute between Google and the Turkish Government. The Turkish government blocked YouTube (which is owned by Google) because of contents that are offensive to Mustafa Kenal Ataturk who is the founder of modern Turkey (there is a law that disallows such insults and offensive remarks against Ataturk).
This case study presents a dispute that highlights the changes that technology has created with regard to the concept of free speech. At one point a person might say that the internet has granted him freedom. Freedom like no other- a new world that traverses the globe with relative ease while giving him the world as an audience.
Yet this freedom just like any other right need to be regulated. Or does it?
After answering that with a definite yes, an even harder question arises. Who regulates the internet? Should it be left in the hands of those website companies that we choose to use? Companies that keep track of every web searches that we make? and of every videos that we view? Companies that have their own interest.
I guess at the moment I'd acquiesce to the website company's voluntary self-regulation (consistent with the Global Network Initiative that helps promote and protect global free expression and privacy) . . I still trust them but this lasts only so long as the threat is not yet deemed apparent.
--------------------
Baguilat, Ice 06-78921
03 December 2008
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