AWARENESS and maturity – these are the two elements that the Malaysian public should have when interacting on the internet.

While the notion that the Internet is free from censorship is backed by the Bill of Guarantees with the Multimedia Super Corridor, bloggers and Webmasters should understand that they are bound by the law as of the land when airing their views on the Net, and their readers should take the responsibility on deciding whether what is published is trustworthy.

Communication and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia’s chairman Professor Tony Lee said because the Bill of Guarantees promises no censorship on the Internet, many people take it as a licence to lash out at various parties in a slanderous and irresponsible manner.

“That is wrong. Anything on the Internet does not operate under a legal vacuum. All the laws of the land still apply. If you write a defamatory article, action can be taken. The fallback legislation and any other Acts of the Government still apply. Taking action based on existing laws does not translate to censorship,” he told Tech&U last week.

Lee was commenting on the Government’s proposal to closely monitor Web sites and blogs that have published seditious content. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said those spreading malicious comments and rumours can be detained and their Web sites or blogs investigated.

Lee said the Web site or blog monitoring may prove to be difficult because the Internet allows people to take part in discussion and access information easily, so education and awareness is the best approach in safeguarding against potential effects of seditious materials.

“The Internet is a very useful tool for information gathering, research and learning. But with all good things, there are bad things. Malaysia really needs to promote good use of the Internet,” he said.

Internet is not an intrusive media, he added, so the onus is on the user on what he or she views or imparts on the Net.

On whether the Internet should be controlled in some way, Lee said it will be a step backwards, putting the country in a bad light in terms of progress.