Blogs, weblogs or web logs nowadays are becoming more a trend than a fad. Away back, they are merely on-line journals or entries of one’s chronological thoughts. Today, blogs are channels of affection, drama, excitement and enthusiasm, passion, vengeance, and many more. They are even mediums for money-making.
It is interesting to note that there are already discussions, feature articles and news reports in TV, radio and newspapers about blogs. Blogs seemed to have also invaded the mass media.
With the freedom of expression afforded to bloggers, weblogs also become an avenue to attack an individual or group of individuals which maybe based on truth or on malicious intents of a person or a group. Because of this, there are news reports and discussions about the need to regulate blogs.
If this move will be pursued, I am just thinking of how the process of regulating will be done. Are the laws we have on libel enough? Can someone sue a blogger or can a blogger be sued for an opinion made based on Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines?
I have not finished watching that discussion on blog regulation the other day because of some commitment but personally I must admit that some bloggers go beyond the basic ethical principles which is respect for others, beneficence and justice. It always pays to be circumspect in sharing opinions and observations. It always benefits to be tactful and objective.
But the thought of the aggrieved also comes to mind. What if the blog is the only fastest medium or channel that one thinks could help convey a message, or a calling? What if one thinks this is the fastest way to get justice or spread the news of injustices, corruption, irregularities, et al?
I end these thoughts that I leave to the reader. Who will truly benefit from blog regulation? Is it the bloggers or those who have become the subjects (based on truth or misrepresented) in blogs?
Nexus: Libel Laws of the Philippines
Basic Ethical Principles
I'm all for free speech. I don't want the political censorship that countries like China impose. But if its libelous, then that's probably an exception.
ReplyDeleteCrimes are usually territorial... which means that the court of the situs of the crime or where the crime is committed has jurisdiction. It's easy if the blogger was in the Philippines and the libel is directed at people in the Philippines. Philippine courts would have jurisdiction. But in the case where the blogger is in Australia, well... this issue isn't resolved yet. Problem is... if Australian courts have jurisdiction, their laws on libel are different from ours.
ReplyDeleteI'm not in favor of blog regulation of any kind. I think that the Internet should regulate itself and police its own ranks. The reason for this is because I think that with the slowness of how legislators pass laws, the law would never keep up with technology. Once they pass a law on blog regulation, something else will spring up which would not be covered by it.
would that mean that our law on libel is sufficient enough, wil?
ReplyDeletethat's one of the topics in the news reports, toe. what if the blogger is in another country? how do we sue someone located in another country? somebody from nbi, his name i forgot, even said that there should be a treaty with regards to this libelous statements.
it is actually the dilemma in the Philippines. masyado mabagal ang pagtakbo ng hustisya. :-(
Simply because of a few bad apples, everyone else has to suffer. That's how I feel about this blog regulation proposal. It never fails that someone somewhere will always ruin things for everybody. Sigh.
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ReplyDeleteLet's face it, the genie is out of the bottle and there is no way you can put it back in. Unless of course, you disable the country's entire network.
ReplyDeleteI say the only people who will benefit greatly with the regulation of blogs are the politicians who are always at the gunsight of most, if not all bloggers.
Also, for some countries whose media is under the control of the government, blogs has become the alternate source of information for its citizens.
sad thing, 'no, panaderos?
ReplyDeletetiyak magdidiwang ang mga politicians na yan if this will be pursued, single. :-(
Each country has its own sensitivity towards freedom of speech and therefore rules vary from country to country. Problem is blogging is global so how can we police it?
ReplyDeleteThe veracity of a post can never be proven in my opinion. If it is a declaration of what a mind thinks then it becomes personal opinion.
One thing that the blog world can proceed with is accountability and this will start with tagging a blogger with some form of authentic identity behind a moniker.
In some way the playing field isn't fair - for a real blogger like you who would be wary of opinions you post and an anonymous blogger like me who would be spewing out anything under the sun ( thankfully I am a conscientious person and do care about what I say because people who know me personally are reading my blog hehe ).
Good post Bing :)
very good points, bw. having a treaty will not even solve it, too. there are actually a lot of things to consider.
ReplyDeletei think that there are no 'fair' arenas. there will always be room for unfriendly people and situations.
hayyy ako sakin ok lang ang blog. :) it is useful and i think that nasa tao nakung pano nila i reregulate ang mga bibig nila. :) but i think people are starting to see the benefits of blogging because almost everybody is starting to build a blogsite of their own. :) This validates people's engagement on this free media. :)
ReplyDeletethe virus has spread, julius! dont ya think? :-)
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ReplyDelete[...] Blog Regulation With the freedom of expression afforded to bloggers, weblogs also become an avenue to attack an individual or group of individuals which maybe based on truth or on malicious intents of a person or a group. Because of this, there are news reports and discussions about the need to regulate blogs. [...]
ReplyDeleteBlog regulation is very real here in the UAE. There had been blogs banned for discussing sensitive topics about the government, religion or social facts in Dubai.
ReplyDeleteI am always thinking twice whenever I write a post (no matter how true) and I tell you, it takes out half the fun! I don't want to wake up someday unable to access my online home so I play it safe (at least for now?)
that is, i think, most probable in middle east countries. they are so about following the rules and the laws even if it means suppression and oppression.
ReplyDeletethanks for reciprocating the visit, grace!