Industry Leaders Propose Code of Conduct for Bloggers, Some Say Censorship
Censorship or Civility
This is a question currently under avid debate. Some industry leaders propose a code of conduct is needed. An effort stimulated by recently publicized cases of death threats, defamation and other cyberbullying tactics.
Advocates include well-known book publisher Tim O'Reilly who recently began working with Jimmy Wales, creator of Wikipedia, to craft a set of guidelines that could influence online discussion and debate. (New York Times).
The proposal focuses on banning anonymous comments, now commonly left on blogs, and reinforcement for blog owners who wish to delete defamatory or threatening content.
While it may seem logical that a blog owner could do as they please and delete nasty posts, repercussions for bloggers who execute the presumed right are on the rise.
Just recently tech author Kathy Sierra, received death threats in part because she supports the right to delete improper blog posts. Opponents refer to this behavior as censorship.
O'Reilly, a purported friend of Sierra, tells the NY Times that such incidents "gives us an opportunity to change the level of expectations that people have about what's acceptable online." His recommendations can be found on his company's blog. (radar.oreilly.com).
Wales followed suit and posted the guidelines to his site, (blogging.wikia.com), to elicit feedback and consensus as to what "constitutes civil behavior online".
The two tech industry gurus propose "several sets of guidelines for conduct" and seals of approval represented by logos.
This enables the code of conduct to be flexible for different types of blogs. For instance, some blogs are conducive to anonymous postings. But the hope is to differentiate among the level of discourse readers will find and bloggers accept.
Interested bloggers would pick a set of guidelines to follow and receive the appropriate logo designating their blogging policy.
The effort sounds reminiscent of the HON Code of Conduct, provided by the Health on the Net Foundation - a code that involves a set of eight voluntary standards for health and medical websites.
Websites that meet HON standards are generally awarded the HON Code logo. While the foundation maintains a modest influence on health-related sites, their usefulness has been disputed. Further, in comparison to a general blogger code of conduct, the challenges for HON are minimal.
Reaching and convincing the sheer number of bloggers alone is only one hurdle, as many online writers feel such codes restrict free speech. Yet, early supporters are already on board.
Sierra supports efforts to improve civility on the Internet while the police investigation into her case of personal cyberterrorism is pending. She is joined by Six-Apart co-founder, Mena Trott. Trott has scaled back her blogging audience due to similar difficulties.
Women are primary targets of cyberbullying and such a code of conduct may see wide-spread support among female bloggers.
However, men are not immune from persecution. According to the NY Times, Richard Silverstein has advocated for Israeli-Palestinian peace on a blog and is the recipient of frequent harassment.
The "situation reached a new low last month, when an anonymous opponent started a blog in Mr. Silverstein's name that included photos of Mr. Silverstein in a pornographic context."
"I've been assaulted and harassed online for four years," he said. "Most of it I can take in stride. But you just never get used to that level of hatred."
Meanwhile the FCC has had clear longstanding interest in policing the Internet and it is well rumored the day will come when the FCC will implement forced change.
So either way bloggers can voluntarily clean up the Internet now, and get some practice in civility, or wait for the day when bone fide censorship, a forced code of conduct, will come.
Source: New York Times, (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/technology/09blog.html?_r=2&pagewanted=2&hp&oref=slogin) April 09, 2007
Published by Donna Porter
Writer / Journalist -- A Yahoo News! Contributor Donna began her writing and internet career in 1995 in the health industry and became an early dot-com entrepreneur soon after. Masters certified in Internet... View profile
- Obama Gets Secret Service Due to Death Threats Obama Camp had to request the Secret Service due to death threats against the viable african american presidential candidate.
- Examining the Pennsylvania Accounting Code of Ethics This article discusses the Pennsylvania Accounting Code of Ethics. Included is an overview of the code, as well a discussion of penalties associated with certain code violations.
- G-O-L-F: The Code of Conduct for Golfers The famous amateur golfer and founder of the Master's tournament, Robert Tyre Jones Jr. once said "In golf, customs of etiquette and decorum are just as important as rules governing play.
- Al-Qaeda and the United States Code of Regulations This article describes some terrorists crimes within the U.S. Code of Regulations.
- Understanding the Code of Ethics in E-business The use of the Internet has brought about additional ethical issues that companies have had to address. This paper will assess the effects of the global regulatory environment on e-marketing and will contain a sample...
- Cisco Systems Code of Conduct
- A New Code of Conduct that Seems in Itself... Like an Isolated Incident
- A Look at RuneScape's Rules of Conduct
- Blog Etiquette Proposed for People Who like to Comment
- Popular Blogger Receives Death Threats
- Blogs Should Have Content Warning
- Dr. Phil Breaches APA's Code of Conduct with Spears Family
|
|
- A Code of Conduct for bloggers may improve civility and accountability on the Net.
- The hurdles to implement such a code are enormous.
- Some argue proposed guidelines are a form of censorship.
16 Comments
Post a CommentI don't think there should be a code of cunduct on bloggers. we write what we feel, and nobdy should tell us what that is.
Very well stated Roselyn, and Vapour I think you have an interesting considertion about this issue, too.
(continued) Free speech is one of our most important rights and should never be taken away. With that right, however, comes responsibility and repercussions for our actions.
I believe blog hosting companies should have the right to decide what is allowed on the sites they own (much the way companies such as AC are able to limit the material they publish so as not to allow hate speech or R-rated articles). I also believe individual blog writers have the the right to choose what goes on their blog--including in the comments section. They are private individuals and companies. The space belongs to them, and they should be able to choose what they will or won't allow, just like they would in their own homes. That said, if the government sets guidelines and restricts what people are allowed to say, that is a violation of free speech. They have no business doing any such thing. Consequences for what we say and do, however, should be in play the same way they are in face-to-face life. Stalking and threats online should be prosecuted just like they are in our physical lives. Free speech is one of our most important rights and should never be taken away. With that
What we write is what people know about us, it is exactly what we want them to know about us, because as they read what we write, they judge what we are- O'Reilly is about taste and being smart- which makes sense, put your best foot forward...for me that means taking it out of my mouth...but then putting it forward...as you do in every one of your excellent(!) articles! -Dana
Industry as champions of morality. I shudder at the thought. This is about money it always is.
Thought provoking. I think the internet has gotten out of hand. Al Quida uses it for communication and propaganda. Pedophiles seem to thrive on it. Yet what to do, where to draw the line. Good questions.
Very interesting report
Well-written article. This raises some disturbing questions, and we should all give them some thought.
Thought provoking piece.