I would not repeat what media has already splashed in its news over the so called Storm over Facebook Content and as I hear that Google is also getting embroiled in the controversy. Interesting stuff to note here is the reaction from Media over the Minister of Communication and Technology Sh. Kapil Sibal. I am not sure why Media is trying to over-react with the comments from Sh. Sibal over the Removal / Censorship of the Objectionable comments / content from the Social Networking Sites.
It is pretty disheartening to note that the media is trying to create a Controversy over the statement of Sh. Sibal and stating that Government Can not Censor online content. Well I object to the way the statement is coming from the various quarters of the Media, as Media needs to be responsible enough to impose self regulation. Sh. Sibal is very much right to make a statement that the objectionable contents need to go off the social networking sites and the online communities.
If I can draw the attention of Media towards the Constitution of India and point towards the Section related to the Fundamental Rights Conferred to its Citizens, I would like to state that there are five Fundamental Rights to the citizens of India including the Freedom to Speech. However the same Constitution as well the the Legal Structure of India restricts these Rights to the extent they are used in diligent and dutiful manner. Any Citizen (including the Netizens) of India need to understand their responsibilities to the extent of using these Rights that they Do not Create a Breach of National Peace & Harmony along with hampering the Fundamental Rights of Fellow Citizens.
So if we look at this case or any other case where the Cyber Discipline needs to be enforced, making a statement that Government Can’t Censor Media / Social Networks / Online Communities, then we are totally Wrong. Government can, but whether it does or doesn’t play Cyber Nanny is something we should let Government decide. If Government doesn’t act and something happens, the same Media would be the first one to make a comment “Government is Non-Existent” or “The Government must Step in to stop this” or any other comment that attempts to or maligns the image of the Government.
Media, you are the Fourth Pillar of Democracy – Be Responsible and Stop being the Tutor to the Government on How the nation needs to be run!!!
