Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information as the extension of both freedom of speech and freedom of expression become the essence factor for the citizen (netizen) to render their opinions through online way. We can’t deny that most of time in one day we spend is in front of the computer or smart phone using the internet. Internet helps us a lot in daily life, most of students depend their lives on the internet, teachers’ gathering more topics from the internet, journalists’ also working out the news through the social media, almost all the works we have is depending on the work of internet. But as a normal citizen have we ever thought about how safe the internet is? How much freedom we have in cyber-world? What are the dos and don’ts’ in the internet? Is there any law that covers the internet users?

Andrew Puddephatt stated “Freedom of speech which generally understood as freedom of expression in any medium, it can be orally, in writing, print, through online way and other form of arts”. While Freedom of Information refers to the right of citizen (netizen) to express themselves, share opinions, thoughts, and any other form of work such as videos, pictures, songs in the internet.

Freedom of Information Act becomes the umbrella to protect citizen with regards to their right to use the internet as the medium to express themselves. Pros and contras have always been there since each of countries government issuing the law. The citizens are the one who enjoys result of FOI through journalists and other government representative. Some certain people might have thought that the journalists are the one who gets advantage but if we could look deeper to the work of journalist, they actually are trying to dig deeper information which the citizens are deserved to know from the government. Beside all the uses of FOI, it is also taking role as the prevention (or the controller) of the misused of internet such as terrorism purpose, pornography, and other uneducated purpose.

Internet censorship takes an essential role especially for the kids. “The revolution of censorship has been developed as much as Freedom of Speech in the internet” said the editor of Index on Censorship, Jo Glanville. Indeed every citizen has the right to use the internet but the degree of internet consumption must be different based on the age level. To protect kids from uneducated information which can be seen freely in internet probably can be one of major function of censorship in internet. As the holder of this freedom, citizen should come up with idea or thought of internet for a positive purpose and not to misuse it.

References:

• The Jakarta Globe x FOI in Indonesia
• The Manila times x FOI in the Philippines
• Internet Censorship x FOI