The Attempt to End Citizen Journalism and Video Activism
Is filming a protest illegal?
Do you think that is right?
Is the government turning ridiculous?
Only recently, the regime inserted an insidious clause in the Films Act. Section 2, subsection (d),
d) a film designed to provide a record of an event or occasion that is held in accordance with the law for those who took part in the event or occasion or are connected with those who did so.
Other bloggers before me have belaboured the point that between the lines is the message that if the event is unlawful, then even the filming of that allegedly or unjustly unlawful event is also unlawful. This worrying clause cannot be repeated enough.
Bloggers and activists film such protests for two main reasons. For publicity of the event via the Internet as the print and broadcast media for political reasons might not give balanced coverage, is one reason. The other reason is for protection and common sense – you never know when the police might use unnecessary or disproportionate force on activists during an event. The police and local media have their version of the “facts” of the event, video activists accompanying the other activists should also have the chance to show the world truth from untruth, and news you don’t get in the news.
Video activism is an important instrument for social change by an independent media. The person behind the Handycam or handphone camera is both observer and participant at the same time. Videos empower, engage and educate. A picture is worth more than a thousand words, but moving pictures or a video is worth more than a thousand pictures. That is why the regime wants to strike fear not only in the hearts of activists, but also in the hearts of their supporters documenting a peaceful protest. The regime wants to expand the net on what is illegal so as to frighten video activists from uploading anti-regime videos in Youtube.
What next? Photography at an alleged illegal event is also a crime? Blogging about an alleged unlawful protest is also a crime? Belated tokenism and Speakers’ Corner, relaxing of the Films Act etc. The regime loosens the grip with the right hand, but tightens the grip even more with the left hand.