“Who will guard the guards”, who will monitor the behaviour of media, especially, social media that have spread rapidly in Sri Lanka ? Social media sites, including several online news websites were criticized recently for publishing sensitive photographs and sensationalizing stories with unnecessary descriptions, and thereby drowning the issues involved.
Dr. Ranga Kalansooriya, Director General, Government Information Department said, there is a need for a mechanism to monitor and regulate online media all around the world. One of the best available mechanisms is to raise awareness among users of these sites and the people at large.
He explained, fundamentally, there is no difference between the web or traditional media. There are attempts to get new media users on ethical standards, including social media where some sites are professional news reporting sites.
The government is trying to look into new legislation to standardize all media, firstly, to establish good practices on news dissemination. “High ethical standards, irrespective of the medium, will be applied for online media sites that are locally registered. The idea is to start an Independent Commission to look into media platforms; electronic, print as well as online.”
The different tones when reporting, for example, gossip style reporting will be looked into, he added.
Discussing the topic of censorship for online media, without restricting the freedom of expression, Kumar Lopez, Chief Executive Director, Sri Lanka Press Institute, said, in media, there has to be good ethics and a code, and that the print media has a Code of Professional Practice. The online editions of the print media, he said, are included in the code known as, the Editor’s Code, while the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka implements the Code on behalf of the Editor’s Guild of Sri Lanka.
Setting up a code of ethics for the internet has been argued for years. “There is the argument that the Internet should not be policed, but we can see some of the damage it causes, as well. As for news based online editions, their credibility will be the final arbiter. Should they abide by a Code, as print media online versions do, their credibility factor will always be higher,” Lopez explained.
The discussion for better online media shows that our society is looking for a free and responsible media, print, electronic as well as online. However, Lopez said, these Codes prepared by editors are a voluntary and self-regulatory mechanism. “It may not be the best, but it works to a large extent. It beats statutory regulatory mechanisms that impede freedom of expression, are political and have a chilling effect on media freedom.”
Meanwhile, General Manager, Asia Broadcasting Corporation Private Ltd. Prasad Karunarathne, who is in charge of Hiru Gossip admitted that there is a necessity for national level guidelines to monitor online media. “We adhere to company values, and ethical guidelines when maintaining the Hiru Gossip website. We try to differentiate ourselves from other gossip news sites.” Karunarathne explained that their policy doesn’t advocate slinging mud at others, or publishing gory photographs, or sensationalized stories. He said, all these attempts are self-regulatory and there is a need for a better implementation mechanism.
Most of the social media sites have an objectionable standpoint on morality, says Geoffrey Alagaratnam, President, Sri Lanka Bar Association. These concerns are directed at laws on public decency and morality, focused on a monitoring mechanism. However, Alagaratnam admitted that it’s an uphill task, where awareness raising is of utmost importance, without encouraging “disastrous communications where some online media sites ruin the reputation of individuals, as well as their families.”
He explained that reporting on issues such as corruption in Sri Lanka is completely acceptable based on professional investigations, but without publishing unnecessary information about private lives of the people involved.
“This limitation should extend to publishing photographs of the deceased and children as well,” he said. “It is uncivil to publish photographs of suicide and rape victims, which does happen.”
Cyber Crimes
DIG Priyantha Jayakody, Director Criminal Records Division said, all the complaints on cyber crimes are reported by the Cyber Investigations Unit under the CID.
However, with the increase in the number of complaints received under this category, the police are in the process of decentralizing this unit within the next three months, to the 42 territorial divisions, where people can lodge cyber related crimes at the Police SP (Superintendent of Police) divisions. Only complex cases will be handled by the CID.
He explained further, Sri Lanka is adhering to international conventions when identifying cyber crimes. Statistically, he added, 77 cases have been reported in 2013, 84 in 2014 and 122 in 2015. Fifty four cases have been reported in 2016 so far, and the police expect the total amount to be around 100-120 by the end of the year.
“Defamation on web gossip sites as well as other social media has the same effect as in the printed mainstream media, the only difference being, in cases of mainstream print media, the complaints are made through the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka,” he said.