The above is a photo credited to Patrick Baz/AFP/? taken during the Egyptian Arab Spring protests. These men, on the floor of a dimly lit, grimy room with their laptops and phones connected to overburdened power strips were responsible for the organization of the masses of people who came out to oust the unfair regime that had ruled them for years.
As a blogger, I stand in absolute support against efforts by any government for measures to control the freedom of expression on the internet. If the Arab Spring, Anna Hazare and Occupy protests have proved anything, they have proved the power - once again - that a united people can represent against a dynastic and fractious government. No government or and most importantly, a government that declares that they are democratic and free, should undertake measures that stifle their people's freedom of expression.
All of the above being said, I also realize the raw power of the internet and the very expression of freedom that a government must protect, to make it easier for the facilitation of messages of violence, injustice, hatred and bigotry. [Look at user comments on YouTube videos of any Justin Bieber song to see what I mean.] In all seriousness, I guess what I am trying to say is that it's important not to muzzle the power Information Technology provides us to connect with each other in new ways [My Telemedicine job - will blog about it later - has had a significant impact on my views on IT]. But at the same time, we still live in an unremorseful world and just because it has become easier to connect with one another, humans have not changed. We're still as capable of committing unspeakably horrible crimes on one another and the ideal of world of peace remains utopian in it's reach. The internet and IT only increases the ease with which we have the ability to access information that helps us make our decisions. It still isn't the arbiter of right and wrong. That's down to us, and that's part of the beauty of a thinking human mind.
I think that the aim of IT is education, awareness and openness - three ideals that really do have the power to change the world. And if when considering how to 'regulate' the internet and other new technologies, governments and vindictive Indian journalists keeps the above in mind, it will provide a much clearer and easier path for its' people to the future.
IT gives us innumerable chances to make decisions every day with respect to what we choose to know and see about the world around us and how we want to participate in global dialogue. Narrow mindedness is no longer an option that can sustain itself without coming against a wall of changed mindset. Which is why it is important, more so than ever, for the equitable distribution of IT and the education of people in it's ways.
I hope, that in the future - everyone can get reliable, responsible and accurate information at the click of a button. And I hope that it empowers them to think for themselves. Leading to whatever it may.
Perhaps even for lawyer in saucepan battlegear - if he's fighting for the right things.
No comments:
Post a Comment