Mіhaіl Darashevіch: “Internet frightens the government”
The head of the project e-belarus.org Mіhaіl Darashevіch discusses the role of the Internet in Belarus, the role of online mass media on the web and the possibility of state control of the sphere in the programme “Witness of the Week”.
Mіhaіl Darashevіch: The role of online mass media in Belarus is very important so it’s no wonder they are getting more and more influence. People are looking for information they lack in traditional mass media. The number of people visiting news web sites is growing every year.
What kind of information are they looking for on the Internet?
– I think people are looking for some practical information. About 70% of visitors are looking for it.
In my opinion, it is a kind of signal for those who work on internet projects, they have to notice what people are expecting. That’s why the number of information sites is increasing. However, the number of news is not growing because they usually borrow it from one another while people are looking for answers to their practical questions.
Sites where people can analyze prices, learn some technical characteristics of devices etc. are very popular. One more example of this kind of web sites is the steady popularity of weather forecasting sites.
We think that the state will be trying to control the Internet the more it grows. Is it possible?
— The Internet frightens the government so they must be considering the control as a limitation. The negative issues are registration of online mass media, obligation to be hosted in the BY. domain in Belarus. Limitations of the kind do not help the Belarusian Internet to grow and do not give people around the world more information about Belarus.
If the law on online mass media is adopted and they post information differing from reality, for example, rumours … Would sanctions be imposed in this case?
— For example, the project of the law on information and informatization contains article #22. It says that distribution of information containing appeals to change the Constitution, war propaganda or something of the kind is prohibited. There is also an article concerning disparagement or insult of citizens’ reputation.
The honour and reputation of private persons is usually protected by the Administrative Code. So it is very strange that they are going to be influenced by the law on information and informatization.
Experts have noticed a number of inaccuracies in the project of the law “On information, informatization and information protection” that is being discussed in the Parliament now. First, some wordings are inexact, second – the number of spheres the law is trying to influence is very great…
— I think that the Belarusian legislation should be in tune with the international legislation in order to become a more open country for foreign investments, the economy should be open too. So it is necessary that international wordings should be used. If you use wordings similar to those used by the international community it will result in the fact that laws will be understood differently.
Speaking about the other issue, it is true. This project resembles a strategy although it is not a strategy. A lot of questions arise because it contains a lot of ways for adding statutory acts and amendments which may improve or spoil the law.
The questing that concerns us most is whether control and censorship are possible on the Internet?
— They are. Moreover, the peculiarity of Belarus is self-censorship. Unfortunately, I am sure that everyone is influenced by it. There are no developed countries having such self-censorship as Belarus does. There are a lot of sad examples of how it can happen.
For example, the Chinese government made blog services sign the agreement on self-discipline to put an end to anonymous blogs. It means that bloggers must be registered together with the contents of their blogs. Blog services urge users to register using their real names and they control information before it is posted on the Internet.
Thus, means of control and censorship are rather numerous and they even may become dangerous in a centralized country like Belarus.
Does the state use the Internet for its own good?
I don’t think so although the Internet gives the state a wonderful opportunity of communication with people. There are 25 online services presented by state organs in the European Union. They are very extensive and diverse – from access to state information to filling tax returns online.
Projects of the kind are too global for Belarus. We do not have the experience of launching small local projects so that is would be possible to see whether ways of communication of the government and inhabitants of a small town really work with the help of the Internet to use the experience later.
For example the Australian government is going to draw citizens’ attention to the discussion of the new policy on forums based on the blog system so that state officials could have an opportunity to express their opinion and to study the opinion of electors.
Mіhaіl Darashevіch: The role of online mass media in Belarus is very important so it’s no wonder they are getting more and more influence. People are looking for information they lack in traditional mass media. The number of people visiting news web sites is growing every year.
What kind of information are they looking for on the Internet?
– I think people are looking for some practical information. About 70% of visitors are looking for it.
In my opinion, it is a kind of signal for those who work on internet projects, they have to notice what people are expecting. That’s why the number of information sites is increasing. However, the number of news is not growing because they usually borrow it from one another while people are looking for answers to their practical questions.
Sites where people can analyze prices, learn some technical characteristics of devices etc. are very popular. One more example of this kind of web sites is the steady popularity of weather forecasting sites.
We think that the state will be trying to control the Internet the more it grows. Is it possible?
— The Internet frightens the government so they must be considering the control as a limitation. The negative issues are registration of online mass media, obligation to be hosted in the BY. domain in Belarus. Limitations of the kind do not help the Belarusian Internet to grow and do not give people around the world more information about Belarus.
If the law on online mass media is adopted and they post information differing from reality, for example, rumours … Would sanctions be imposed in this case?
— For example, the project of the law on information and informatization contains article #22. It says that distribution of information containing appeals to change the Constitution, war propaganda or something of the kind is prohibited. There is also an article concerning disparagement or insult of citizens’ reputation.
The honour and reputation of private persons is usually protected by the Administrative Code. So it is very strange that they are going to be influenced by the law on information and informatization.
Experts have noticed a number of inaccuracies in the project of the law “On information, informatization and information protection” that is being discussed in the Parliament now. First, some wordings are inexact, second – the number of spheres the law is trying to influence is very great…
— I think that the Belarusian legislation should be in tune with the international legislation in order to become a more open country for foreign investments, the economy should be open too. So it is necessary that international wordings should be used. If you use wordings similar to those used by the international community it will result in the fact that laws will be understood differently.
Speaking about the other issue, it is true. This project resembles a strategy although it is not a strategy. A lot of questions arise because it contains a lot of ways for adding statutory acts and amendments which may improve or spoil the law.
The questing that concerns us most is whether control and censorship are possible on the Internet?
— They are. Moreover, the peculiarity of Belarus is self-censorship. Unfortunately, I am sure that everyone is influenced by it. There are no developed countries having such self-censorship as Belarus does. There are a lot of sad examples of how it can happen.
For example, the Chinese government made blog services sign the agreement on self-discipline to put an end to anonymous blogs. It means that bloggers must be registered together with the contents of their blogs. Blog services urge users to register using their real names and they control information before it is posted on the Internet.
Thus, means of control and censorship are rather numerous and they even may become dangerous in a centralized country like Belarus.
Does the state use the Internet for its own good?
I don’t think so although the Internet gives the state a wonderful opportunity of communication with people. There are 25 online services presented by state organs in the European Union. They are very extensive and diverse – from access to state information to filling tax returns online.
Projects of the kind are too global for Belarus. We do not have the experience of launching small local projects so that is would be possible to see whether ways of communication of the government and inhabitants of a small town really work with the help of the Internet to use the experience later.
For example the Australian government is going to draw citizens’ attention to the discussion of the new policy on forums based on the blog system so that state officials could have an opportunity to express their opinion and to study the opinion of electors.
