The Nosy Government

Invention of internet by Tim Berners-Lee revolutionized the way world used to communicate. Almost a decade later social networking sites came up with new way to share thoughts.  The social networking wave has taken world with it, Indian youth are no exception. With more than 4 % India’s population as active social networkers the websites turned into a forum to express their opinions.

                        Posts on social networking sites are viral in nature and it can reach millions around the globe in a short span. “Kolaveri Di” song is an apt example for viral nature of social network. Past few years’s people effectively exploited the viral nature of social networking sites to organize protest against government.  Egypt is the forerunner to utilize the social networks to topple the autocratic government and establish a democracy.  The revolution in Egypt is a concrete proof of what social network sites can do to a nation.

We can observe this trend among Indians users also. During Anna Harare’s campaign for lokpal ,social networking played a key role to educate people to protest for a strong lokpal.  Off late Youth started using social networking sites to show their dissent against government. Few cartoons and morphed photos which are certainly objectionable became viral. This made government to take a decision to monitor posts on social networking sites.

Social networking sites are also being used to spread inflammatory content about religion. By Religious fundamentalist to turn youth against other religions. They are also being used for illegal activities like drug trafficking, child pornography etc. All these can be serious internal threats.

Its moral responsibility of government to protect its citizens from offensive content .So government has every right to monitor and censor inflammatory posts for national interests. But the Indian government should not turn autocratic like Chinese government and start censoring posts on internet against it. Government has to selectively exercise its power to censor posts. It can do it as long as it can justify its act to censor any post

            The Constitution of India guarantees fundamental right “freedom of expression” to its citizens. Constitutional framers did not want people to be deprived of freedom of thought from their colonial rule experiences. But this is not an absolute fundamental right given to the citizens. Government can suspend it on grounds of threat to national integrity, stability of government and armed rebellion.

It’s all about choice. Misuse of any right can deprive us of that. Citizens should also responsibly exercise their freedom of speech. Just because constitution assures them a fundamental right they should not misuse it. Instead of posting derogatory comments they have participate in constructive discussion. In a democratic country like India every individual has a powerful tool called ‘VOTE’ to vent his/her anger against the government. Once citizens start responsibly using internet there won’t be any necessity for government to monitor and control social networking sites. 

After all none of us want to head back to colonial age!