Is there really Freedom of Speech?

The internet was never easy to control due to the unlimited virtual space. Although the cyberspace encourages freedom of speech, bloggers face obstacles regarding this matter, especially political blogs in Malaysia.

Source: the Star Online

A few days before the country marked its 51st independence, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) ordered all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to Malaysia Today, the controversial political website by Raja Petra Kamaruddin. However, the Commission’s action had stimulated uproar because they broke a commitment made when the country first launched the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) plan back in 1996. They had promised no internet censorship. Malaysia Today was not the first as the government had shut down another prominent political website, Malaysiakini, back in 2003 (Woodier, 2002).

MCMC explained that the reason they blocked the website was because some contents published were offensive and insensitive which could stir up controversies. They claimed that it is their responsibility to take action when such defamatory contents are posted because they are obliged by the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

If that is the case, then to what extent can we practice freedom of speech? VanFossen (2007) stated that freedom of speech does not equal saying whatever we want. We have to be prepared of the consequences should others be offended or laws prevent. In Malaysia, laws like the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) restrict writers in fully utilizing their freedom of speech.

It is crucial to consider what you are about to write in the readers’ shoes because people interpret texts differently based on their attitude, knowledge, culture and background (Schriver, 1997). Anderson (cited in Putnis and Petelin, 1996) pointed out that a good document design not only helps readers interpret the content efficiently, it also allows readers to feel comfortable with the information they are digesting.

Bloggers must remember that they are no longer invisible. Anybody, from students to politicians, can stumble upon your website anytime. Be careful of what you write, because you will never know when you might offend someone unintentionally without realizing.

References:

Lee MK 2008, ‘M'sia govt breaks promise, censors Net’, ZDNet Asia, viewed 10 November 2008, <http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044908,62045527,00.htm>.

Putnis, P & Petelin, R 1996, Professional communication: Principles and applications, ‘Chapter 7: Writing to communicate’, Prentice Hall, Sydney.

Schriver, KA 1997, Dynamics in document design: Creating texts for readers, ‘Chapter 6: The interplay of words and pictures’, Willy Computer Publishing, New York.

VanFossen, L 2007, ‘Blogging freedom of speech: Can you really say what you want?’, The Blog Herald, viewed 9 November 2008, <http://www.blogherald.com/2007/03/27/blogging-freedom-of-speech-can-you-really-say-whatever-you-want/>.