The recent advisory issued by the Goa Police on social media posts including Whatsapp is conveniently and deviously misconstrued by some.
That police advisory very rightly says that fake news, hate speech or misinformation should not be posted on Whatsapp groups and to also not forward such news without verifying the same. The advisory further correctly says not to share any content that is violent, pornographic and discriminative against any religion or community. These are infact commonsense fundamentals that anyone using social media should strictly adhere to at all times. Instead of deleting any posts that are objectionable, some Whatsapp group Admins while sneakily taking shelter of that police Advisory have changed the settings of the group to only allow Admins to post which is violative of Freedom of speech. The Admin is either conniving with the establishment to suppress the voices of the group members or they are possibly morons wrongly interpreting the police Advisory. If the Admin is incompetent to manage the group, winding it up would be the right option. Whether on COVID-19 or any other issue that concerns society we all are entitled to fairly express our opinion and suggestions if any. Freedom of Speech and Expression is fundamental to a democracy while a free and fearless Press is also sacrosanct. The power to dissent and the right to hold a different viewpoint is vital to the very functioning of democracy. Everyone needs to take personal responsibility for what they write and not allow any misinterpretation on social media to persist. Ironically in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections the BJP made extensive use of the RTI Act and social media to ride to power. But once in the saddle they find the social media a stumbling block in masking and covering up the follies of the faltering government. Social media has transformed and drastically enhanced our power to communicate instantly with the world. Through Whatsapp, Twitter, the various groups on Facebook besides other global networking sites that I am enrolled with, I am able to communicate within minutes by sharing a message or a thought with lakhs of people worldwide while leaving it to anyone who differs to express his own point of view. Social media is not about an exploitation of technology but service to community. It engages and drives peoples’ minds literally. In this technological age we don’t have a choice on whether we DO social media; the question is how well we do it. Thank you Social Media. It’s an amazing world! Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com