Propaganda (Diet)
Could there be a better place for a political smear campaign than the Internet? It’s a fertile wonderland for dubious facts, anonymous accusations and conspiracy theorists. But Google says it will be doing its part to keep things clean this year by banning any ads that include “attacks on an individual's personal life.”
Google’s Public Policy Blog gives the example that “‘Crime rates are up under Police Commissioner Gordon’ is okay, but ‘Police Commissioner Gordon had an affair’ is not.” The same section prohibits attacks on a “protected group,” meaning that race, religion and age can’t be targeted. One blogger notes that AdSense had been running an ad titled “Truth About Mitt Romney: The Secret Mormon Plan Revealed,” but it’s unclear if this ad for a conspiracy-themed book was still circulating after the Google rules were announced. Some worry that Google is positioning itself as a gatekeeper by deciding which attacks are personal. But I can think of one candidate who will be happy if this restriction helps stave off a digital version of the racist fear-mongering that plagued him back in 2000.
1 comments:
Is this a black day for the internet? For Google, but most worryingly of all, for freedom of speech.
From its conception to present date, the internet has had little if any major prohibitions or constraints of the opinions expressed; it was quite literally, an open book.
With the recent announcement that Google will be banning ads that include “attacks on an individual's personal life", is this a typical case of editorial decency, with the internets increasing user base being children and impressionable adolescence.
Does this potential ban helps stop the manifestation of social and cultural stereotypes finding another avenue of expression? Or do we need these expressions to educate not exclude, will the internet become an empty vessel of an Orwellian indoctrination?
The vastness and capability has allowed somewhat ignorant people learn about people to whom they would not have previously cared for or even know. It has in its vastness brought people closer together and that is because people are able to find others alike, to not feel alone, to not feel pressured, watched over or scrutinised.
To be free and to chose, you don't have to view pages or messages, you are the editor of the internet, it's your choice.
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