Let’s call it a compromise of sorts. There is plenty of self-interest involved. Either that, or the company and users lose out completely by refusing to comply.
On an individualistic level, social media has provided the balance by informing users that their content is adult-oriented and parents are strongly advised to monitor their children on using their sites. But, censorship is not as easily defined nor accepted when it comes to political pressure.
Twitter recently announced “country-specific’ censorship, stating: “As we continue to grow internationally, we will enter countries that have different ideas about the contours of freedom of expression. Some differ so much from our ideas that we will not be able to exist there.” This from the same Twitter that came out a hero during the Arab uprising, that brought revolution to the doorsteps and drew worldwide attention. Perhaps, Twitter scared the living daylights of the governments around the world over the power of social media.
Incidentally, when Google and Facebook recently received order by the Indian court to withhold “offensive” material that hurt the religious sentiments of the multi-ethnic society, they are not going to refuse either. Google had been previously warned, but it was not until a few months ago that a user brought the matter to attention by stressing that boundaries need to be set with regard to content publication. How can Facebook say no and shut down their second largest market in the world that is India?
Because Facebook has learned its lessons. In 2008, the Tunisian government had blocked Facebook for a short while without an explanation. China, considered most “stringent” in internet censorship, alongside the Arab and North African countries, has a new rule to counter set by the Chinese government that requires micro bloggers to register by providing their real identity. So much for privacy. And hats off to the companies who come up with some way to ensure the match between the registration and the actual user are ditto!
Definitely a more direct stance than their attempts by slowing internet speed or blocking keywords, governments in turn have defended by stating how censorship will discourage anti-terrorism and criminal activities instigated through social media, besides preserving values of the society.
This leaves us to wonder just where is this fine line. For as long as journalism has been alive, they have been struggling to reveal content, and have faced imprisonment, torture and death in the process. As a renowned Egyptian blogger, Wael Abbas remarked about social media during the Egyptian revolution: “Social media is a tool. But revolution is the decision of many people…” So be it.
