Friday, February 4, 2011

Anonymity on Blogs/Websites about Cambodia

The internet and its social networks have played a vital and transcendent role in both the uprising in Tunisia, the ongoing revolt in Egypt, and the civil unrest spreading in Jordan, Syria, and Yemen.


Exactly what role it has played is somewhat hazy but undoubtedly its impact was tremendous; what is clear is that it enabled the spread of information within seconds of becoming significant to the cause. Words like ‘We should do something about it.’, meaning the oppression, censorship, and other curtailments of basic rights, can ignite into a wildfire. We can see the results of a call to take to the streets in Egypt. Unmistakably, the internet and Facebook have become a powerful tool for opposition groups that leaders in oppressed countries have only now come to realize, or so it seems.

On the other hand, about 60% of all Internet traffic is to sites with sexual or pornographic content. Another big nuisance of it is that anybody can post anything on websites, e. g. this domain, for free; some people choose to use their real names, some choose to use a pseudonym, and others do it anonymously. This anonymity leads, of course, to a flood of vicious, vile, and insulting postings that only serve one purpose: to besmirch the author of the post or one of the comments. Bloggers, myself included, feel they have something to say so they publish their thoughts on a blog. They do this because they want to share their thoughts, possibly provoke a discussion, offer a different point of view; but most certainly their aim is not to be vilified.

Someone, I believe it was a NYT reporter, once said bloggers have become the new form of print journalism, as sometimes they do break news the mainstream media has not picked up on yet. However, that person was obviously referring only to the serious ones, like the ones that can be found on the New York Times website, or the Huffington Post; certainly, vulgar websites and posters were not included in that statement.

An overseas Khmer political scientist by the name of Gaffar Peang-Meth published an article on the subject of anonymity on a number of websites, including his main vehicle the Pacific Daily News. He simply listed a number of observations made by other people, the gist of which was what we all know already – humans are capable of writing things anonymously, regardless of civility or propriety, they wouldn’t otherwise write. If all people lived by certain universal ethical standards we would not need laws or in the case of internet blogging, moderation of comments.

I, for one, choose to post anonymously in order to avoid those profane and vile comments that would, and in fact did, automatically follow, to some people controversial, posts. (However, anybody can learn my identity if they get in touch by email.) I know the names afforded certain groups or nationalities, e. g. rednecks, the N-word for Africans, guinea for Italian, mick for Irish, kraut for German, frog for French, etc. Again, they don’t serve any purpose but to denigrate other people. In my view, those vicious comments are just a waste of space on the internet, and any self-respecting blogger would just not have his/her site marred by such trash.

The a. m. Mr. Gaffar mentioned that anonymity is the shield from tyranny of the majority (quoted from the U. S. Supreme Court). Understandably, anonymous posters might also fear reprisals from authorities in countries with oppressive regimes. While this certainly has validity in countries like China and Vietnam, for instance, does this apply to Cambodia?

There are many anti-government websites, including blogs, on the internet. The most notorious one is probably KI-Media, which is a prime example of a typical unmoderated blog. The site itself is anonymous so they publish the most virulent anti-government comments. Most are overseas-Khmer who I am sure sometimes come to visit relatives and for that very reason wish to remain anonymous. Their contention most likely runs somewhat along the ‘You never know’ line. On the other hand, Licadho or the Cambodian Center for Human Rights and their members are and live in Cambodia and continue to exist without interference from the government. Of course, they are internationally recognized organizations and harder to influence or control than mere individuals. I have no idea how Facebook features in the dissemination of information about Cambodia, but if other examples are any guide, it probably has the same prominence as elsewhere.

Another anti-government propaganda site is Khmer Intelligence. Now this site doesn’t really exist, but the people behind it send regular Cambodia-related news, mostly rumors and outright fabricated information, by email. This site is actually rather redundant. Other self-appointed anonymous critcs living abroad fall mostly into the same category. They think they make a difference and possibly wish they could foment an uprising like the ones in Tunisia or Egypt with their posts, but they fear to lose the comforts of their normal life so they opt for anonymity and remain armchair experts, content in their belief to have achieved something by putting it out in cyberspace. Only by stepping out of their anonymity and by revealing their true identity can they hope to make a difference; real leaders always have a name.

On the other side of the spectrum, a blog of serious content is ‘The Mirror’ written by former DPA (German press agency) correspondent Norbert Klein. He voices his opinions and often critical observations in broad daylight, so to speak. Well, he is not Khmer, so is he afforded special status or is it that his pieces are of a more mature,sophisticated nature and on a higher level? Said Mr. Gaffar and Ms. Theary Seng, a prominent Khmer activist, also publish their articles under their true names; nothing has happened to them either. Sadly, though, both also choose KI-Media for their publications.

Mr. Gaffar headlined his article ‘Anonymity has its Time and Place’. I would believe this for the most part does not apply to the people who really do want to work for change in Cambodia.



Postscript: Another at times anti-government blog has disappeared from the scene, it seems. Details Are Sketchy ceased from one day to the next. A recent comment on my blog was wondering what happened to her. Although I believe her blog had mostly rather superficial content and some nasty comments, I also wonder what happened to that blogger.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

According to the Phnom Penh Post, Opposition site blocked.
Is it the sign that People Revolution reach Cambodia?

Anonymous said...

Bo says:

Where have you been all these years? The revolution did reach Cambodia on April 17, 1975 with the result of million of Cambodians dead. Today, I rather call for a reform than a revolution.

KJE said...

A bit of erroneous reporting. It is not blocked, and the people revolution has not reached Cambodia as they are tired of upheavals.

KJE said...

Bo
Wrong section?

Anonymous said...

LICADHO Condemns Censorship of Web Sites Critical of Government

http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2011/02/licadho-condemns-censorship-of-web.html#more

Anonymous said...

The Phnom Penh Post

"The government requested that 10 internet service providers block several sites earlier this month, according to a leaked email, despite claims from officials that no such order exists."

Anonymous said...

KJE,

You stated,
"A bit of erroneous reporting. It is not blocked."

Is there any truth to it?

KJE said...

Well, KI-Media is still accessible through other ISPs; I don't think it makes sense to order 10 ISPs to block it but the most widely used, Mobitel, is not affected.
I have no proof of that but it smells as if that leaked email was a plant and the PPP fell victim to it.
Sometimes, the PPP's server seems to be overloaded and I can't access it. So I go to KI-Media as they post PPP articles too (copy right?). I have never encountered any problems that were not server-related in accessing any web-page in and from Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

"WiCam users attempting to access KI-Media said they saw an error message, signed by “WiCam Tech Support”, saying the site had been “blocked as ordered” by MPTC."

Anonymous said...

Sieng Sithy, deputy director of the Directorate of Telecommunications Policy Regulation at the MPTC, wrote an email to Ezecom, Metfone, Citylink, Digi, AngkorNet, WiCam, TC, Camnet, Online and Camintel thanking them for “cooperation” in blocking access to several websites, including KI-Media, Khmerization and a site featuring the art of political cartoonist Sacrava.

Anonymous said...

Well, nobody ever said that the order from Cambodian government makes sense.

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Anonymous said...

Bo says:

I absolutely agree with what U.S Ambassador Carol A Rodley says, “Arresting bloggers, prying into the peaceful activities of citizens and limiting or closing off access to information does not make a society more secure for the long term. Silencing ideas does not make them go away. Second, we must protect both transparency and confidentiality. Transparency is critical. We can and should give citizens information about their governments”.

I also believe that these universal human rights have certain limitations and boundaries that no one including KI media blogger should over step. A few bloggers such as KI media have allowed so many commentators to use threats, foul and detestable language which is a deliberate attempt to try to harm others physically and mentally. KI media blogger has crossed over the line and abused the universal human rights of internet freedom and freedom of expression. If KI media blogger continues being irresponsible and allowing these kinds of abuses to continues then it deserves to be blocked. This not about restricting one’s freedom but rather a more appropriate way to eliminate the abuse of one’s freedom.

Several commentators have expressed hatred and threats toward each other. For instance, one of the commentators said, “You mother f_ _ ker, if I knew where you live, I would go to your house and rape your mother and then kill you”. And the response was “your mother is a f_ _king whore”. This is not peaceful or civilized exchange or sharing of useful information, but it is purely attacks and disorderly conducts.

If any high profile U. S. government’s official believes these kinds of abusive language and threats are part of the ingredients of freedom of speech and democracy then I would like for him or her to publicly make a statement about it.

However, I do not mind when KI media blogger calls some Cambodian officers as traitors, ignorant, and stupid. That sort of language may be a harsh to expression of dislike or dismay but is not abusive. Even though from time to time I have read some KI media posts that are not true, made up stories and disinformation, I personally still believe that KI media has the right to do so. Whoever reads these articles posted at KI media, including myself, need to make our own analysis. We do not need any government intervention.

By the same token, I also believe that the Cambodian government has wrongly arrested a person who was sharing a hard copy of information with his coworker, regardless of whether or not this information was faulty or antigovernment.

In the United States the government has forbidden U.S government employees from viewing Wikileaks. Many law makers want to shut down Wikileaks for good. I believe the U. S. is playing a double standard and is being hypocritical on this matter (don’t what I do, but do what I’ve said).

KJE said...

Bo,
Carol Rodley's article was nice but nothing but lip service to the principles of free speech. Jumping into the breach for a dubious website such as KI-Media even by inference is definitely a questionable exercise. The fact that the U. S. government ordered its employees from viewing Wikileaks is a severe infringement of human rights in itself. The cited double standard in the U. S. extends to much more than just this instance.

As for the websites in question in Cambodia, they are not proponents of free speech and human rights as they so openly trample on others' rights by allowing insults of the worst kind to be hurled at others. They don't deserve to be shut down, they just deserve to be ignored. The PPP is just doing them a great favor by publishing accounts of purported attempts to block access to them. It is not so much reporting about the government's alleged attempts at silencing critical blogs but is attaching unfounded importance to a trash site. This site prides itself of receiving an incredible number of hits, which is easily explained by all those many vile comments, which appear to come from mostly young, immature, and very uneducated readers.Sites like KI-Media attract this kind of reader like a dung heap attracts flies.

As mentioned before the email in question was either a plant or the work of an overzealous employee, no matter what his rank. This whole affair was once again the proverbial storm in a tea kettle.

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