New media in old role

The new media, a product of the revolution in Information Communication Technology (ICT) played an active role in the Presidential elections just concluded. In fact it competed with the traditional media in the dissemination of news and information as well as in publishing comments and views.

The developments in the communication sector in the country were quite exceptional during the past few years. The Internet has been made more accessible. The mobile telephone has become a very common article of utility. It is within the reach of anyone, especially with the availability of pre-paid card facilities.

While this is good news, there is much to be desired in its use. During the election campaign the Internet was used to disseminate wildest allegations and character assassinations of individuals, including candidates, political leaders and even public officials. The maligned, of course, had no way to challenge these false accusations. What was worse was that once an allegation was made every Tom, Dick and Harry was invited to comment on it. Most accepted the allegations without calling for proof and added extra venom.

The new media actually became a carrier for a very old practice - rumour mongering. The Internet, the e-mail and especially the SMS message became the principal means of spreading wild rumours. The messages were picked up by gullible persons and they began to spread it further through the new media or through word of mouth, still the most potent form of spreading bad news.

This could have been excused or ignored, if the content of the rumours were mere childish or youthful pranks. Instead the subject matter of the messages disseminated ranged from character assassination of individuals to spreading false information in a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and influence the outcome of the elections. Some wrong information gave rise to serious concerns for having endangered the security of the country or the maintenance of law and order.

There were also frantic calls for action asking people to arrive at the Capital to protest against unlawful actions of the Government. Many such messages were obviously provocative in character.

For example, some messages stated that the Elections Commissioner was kept under custody and that he was being asked to alter the election results to favour the incumbent President. These messages were even sent abroad in an attempt to harness international support for mass action contemplated by the authors of these messages.

Unfortunately it is not practical to take action against these provocative and even subversive messages. Nor is there provision in law to tackle them adequately. Since SMS messages originate at individual level it would be impossible to stop them. That would tantamount to a restriction of freedom of expression. However, there is a need for minimizing the alarm and other dangers that arise from the proliferation of wrong, damaging and defamatory material over the new media.

One simple way is for the authorities to educate the public with correct information and educate the people on the dangers inherent in the indiscriminate use of such media.

Good news for lovers

There is good news for lovers. For example a Sinhala daily yesterday had three commercial advertisements by four professionals competent in occult ‘sciences.’ One claimed hereditary knowledge, another five decades experience and another hereditary caste skills and knowledge. The last, a monk claimed his prestige is worldwide.

Services offered include success in love, unwavering loyalty of spouse, re-uniting broken marriages and expediting elusive marriages etc. etc.

They all promise quick relief. One said the client’s lover would voluntarily come within seven days and seek his solace. Another, not to be outdone promised result within three half days.

The advertisements are so alluring that even the old would regret the lack of facilities in their time. Perhaps they too could obtain these services to keep a permanent paramour or mistress. These practitioners do not respect ethics, social customs or the law of the land.

Cheer up, all lovers, both broken-hearted and otherwise waste no time in seeking solace from these experts. We expect you to take only one precaution. Just like the tobacco advertisers we say in small print “These services may be dangerous to you”.