Bloggers united?
The BBC carried some alarming statistics today:
More bloggers than ever face arrest for exposing human rights abuses or criticising governments, says a report.
Since 2003, 64 people have been arrested for publishing their views on a blog, says the University of Washington annual report.
In 2007 three times as many people were arrested for blogging about political issues than in 2006, it revealed.
The worst offenders include China, Egypt and Iran - so little surprise there. What’s less expected is that police in Britain, France, Canada and the US. And arrests look to increase this year in the wake of elections around the world and the Beijing Olympics.
So, a thoroughly depressing read by the sounds of it. The WIA reckon that the increased arrests reflect a growth in the blogosphere. Usually growth would be encouraging, especially in areas challenged by repressive governments where the subversive power of blog should be at its best. But when that subversiveness is crushed at the point of entry, its effect must inevitably be limited…
Can anything be done? Certain nations’ laws are effectively beyond assault from bloggers - if China manages to ignore its people so easily, it’ll hardly have a problem ignoring us. About the most that can be done is making sure any content that does escape makes its way to foreign websites and news-agencies which can’t be shut down with a few arrests. At least someone might take note then.
In the UK, though? Some bloggers surely run into trouble simply through misunderstanding our tortuous libel laws, or making another stupid mistake. And unlike journalists, most of them don’t have a union to step in when they do get into trouble. The obvious solution is to set up a body able to provide some basic protection to bloggers. A website with a clear outline of libel laws in simple (hah…) language would help; so to would a contributory defence fund in case anyone did get into trouble. Bloggers would be welcome to pay in as much or little as they could afford - and would receive the groups’ support in the future should they need it. So - not quite a bloggers’ union, but approaching that.
But, enough talking. I should check whether one exists already, or whether there’s a reason why I haven’t spotted any before. Otherwise…
Posted in: International, Lead Story, The Internet
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