The publicity given to the reported use of social networking sites like Facebook in consolidating public opinion against the government in Egypt seems to have made even the government of Democratic India nervous. So much so that Union Minister Kapil Sibal was authorised to hold a meeting with the top executives of these sites asking them to edit (a more realistic word is censor) offensive references to the Congress leadership on these sites. Fortunately, the executives did not entertain his request and the government has not succeeded in its vain, and admittedly stupid attempt, to control internet content.
It is true that there is a side to the web that is vulgar and ugly. Obscenity, pornography, communalism, racism, sheer nastiness can all be found in cyber space. At the same time, however, the internet is being overtaken by humour, great music, clever videos, irreverent and often valid criticism of political leaders as well as free and frank debate.
There are any number of sites carrying news analysis, comments and reports on all possible issues that bring invaluable depth to discourse. In fact it has become the alternative to the mainstream, the last being controlled by the Indian government and the first finally finding an outlet for free and democratic expression.
People in troubled areas like Jammu and Kashmir, and the north east, are increasingly using the internet to pour out their problems, as are democratic forces in the rest of India. This clearly has become a source of worry for the government not just here but in other countries like China, that want to muzzle free opinion and do not look at criticism as a wake up call. Laws are formulated and exercised to curb democratic voices with a free print and television media being at best an illusion. News is blocked out on a daily basis but now those at the receiving end of state arrogance have moved to the internet sites with the result that while information might occasionally be delayed, it is certainly no longer denied.
According to reports India has a 100 million internet users, third only to China and the United States. Facebook, Twitter and Google are all amazing expressions of freedom with individuals having the facility of blocking out the offensive.
One can only hope that good sense has dawned and the government has realised that interference of this kind is neither judicious nor welcome. One hopes that instead of imposing restraints, the government imbibes the democratic spirit of India to encourage a free and fair information flow.
