How free are we – really?

Leo Plaw, who works on the SMLXL web presence, is also a bit of a thinker and an Aussie. He’s all good things and raises in this post some very interesting points about how free are we really?

He writes

These same “democratic” governments who have long been critical of the likes of Chinese Net censorship, are the very same governments who are looking at the very same technology for their own use, and in some instances, purchasing that same technology (software).

It is true what you say. This new networked world is very empowering, and that is precisely what the “establishment” do not want – a very public forum of discussion, debate, criticism, parody and outing is not welcome.

We are in unchartered waters, as he describes Australian government attempts to restrict the freedom of the digital domain. Although, if one reads about the rise of the ASIO - then one realises that the inside of the sun bleached bondi beach no worries crew is somewhat different in complexity and psychological makeup.

But his point is, that there will come a point when we will have to seriously negotiate what is and what is not possible, because the digital realm will become as much a part of our everyday existence where our digital; identities, presence, proximity, data, and privacy are all called into the debate of who owns and has access to what, what we can and cannot do and ultimately how that affects our civil liberties as citizens and society.

I think we are arriving at that moment in time.

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Posted in: Citizen journalism, Engagement Civil Society, Ethics, Generation C, Government & Politics, Identity, Politics, Social Networks, Society, Trends, Web/Tech

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