We are caught in our own Web
20.05.12
"It's a battle between the government and us. Don't forget that. Today we are a nation of 100 million, in India. In a few years, we will be 10 X. Is the government gagging us?" says a chronic Facebooker uploading her pokes.
By saying she belongs to a "nation" of 100 million--obviously, a reference to the number of internet users in India--she is echoing the values that her "nation" is proud of: freedom to socialise on the Web. This larger freedom to socialise involves other sub-liberties as well: right to express freely, right to network, right to invite, even right to refuse an invite.
Net nation
This is a new nation with new values. And Sibal & Co seek to control it by creating a code of conduct to ensure that "offensive" content is not uploaded. "Citizens are relics of the State, a concept driven by authority, control, morality. Netizens are creating a universe where informality binds people. If you are not used to it, you will find such a culture menacing... It's the future. You cannot take it away from us by policing it," says a tweeting techie.
Source: Times of India