Probing eyes

The ubiquitous right to freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy that has often been badly misused. Used under different names such as megalomania vitriol has been poured against communities and groups and ranged from racism to communalism. At times misinterpreted views on religion have been spread. Bad enough for Google and Facebook to ban white supremacist, separatism and nationalism from its platform effective on Tuesday, April 02. That is a direct outcome of the live streaming of the mosque murders in New Zealand that shook the world and deeply wounded sensitivity. The social media also stands guilty of leaking personal data to the extent of targeted election campaigning in the United States and further tweaking information for an obtuse effect.

There are those that would oppose any form of restrictions but just as democracy is imperfect so too is freedom of expression. Facebook is banning all such propaganda perpetrated by groups and individuals but just as reprehensible are moves by countries to gag public opinion. There too, interference comes by way of either limiting access to information such as China or Section 57 in our own Bangladesh. Fake news is a reality that was raised, maybe lop-sidedly by Mr. Donald Trump but the world had to stop and listen. While that doesn't include his version of what Fake News is, it is recognised that there's a lot out there not based on facts. Mr. Trump's own lies have been trumpeted by the unforgiving media with its clips from the past but the media itself has been known to cover and comment on matters beyond their jurisdiction of reporting on facts and presenting both sides of opinion. Broadcaster Sally Bundock

of the BBC was accused on hashtag of not allowing a pro-Brexit interviewee his space to the extent that he called Bundock and the BBC out for their stand on the 'Remain' bandwagon.

Traditionally, freedoms are always misused in some form of shape and size and countries built on dictatorial or communist principles are known for stifling public opinion. Matters are changing but even the economic hub of Singapore has a controlled economy and political system. China for all of its forays into market economy and spectacular growth controls public dissent with an iron hand to the extent that her candidate for the Interpol top job was hauled back for a corruption hearing and even his wife hasn't heard from him since. There are some similarities with a few cases in Bangladesh of persons going missing and then turning up with an unwritten media gag on them. This doesn't behove well for democracy or at least the form we are living in. Having said that, there's no denying that there have been abject cases of misinformation using social media not least during the student protest against traffic mismanagement. Of particular mention was the actress who sent viral a statement designed to create panic. That student movements can lead to better things is amply demonstrated by the unified approach of the European Union to a ban on one-time use plastic by 2021 no matter the cost to businesses and in partial acquiescence with the youth generation's demands to address climate change. Another factor is China's unwillingness to process plastic recycling generated by the world. In Bangladesh traffic mismanagement continues, though one hope the circular bus routing that has taken off may make a difference at some stage.

Facebook has been bold in making the call and there will be criticism of discrimination in terms of other forms of separatism and nationalism. Time will tell how much further the social media platform will evolve in the area of self-censorship.

mahmudrahman@gmail.com