به ما ملحق شوید و بگویید که پایگاههای اینترنتی نظیر یوتیوب چه نقشی در تعیین جایگاه و حدود آزادی بیان در کشور شما، زبان شما و در سراسر جهان دارند. برایان پیلوت، سردبیر آنلاین ما این بحث را شروع میکند.
اقدام داوطلبانه گوگل، صاحب پایگاه یوتیوب، به محدود کردن دسترسی به ویدیوی مروج اسلامهراسی «معصومیت مسلمانان» در کشورهای مصر و لیبی، بحث داغی در پی داشته است. از آنجا که یوتیوب برای هر کشور نسخه محلی و جداگانهای دارد، شرکت گوگل به طور معمول درخواستهای دولتی جهت محدود کردن دسترسی محلی به محتویاتی که به وضوح قوانین آنها را نقض میکنند، را میپذیرد. بر همین اساس گوگل «معصومیت مسلمانان» را در عربستان سعودی، اردن، هند، اندونزی، مالزی و سنگاپور از دسترس خارج کرد. اما اقدام پیشگیرانه گوگل به قطع دسترسی به این ویدیو در لیبی و مصر، بدون درخواست دولتهای آنها و با این اساس که “شرایط بسیار حساسی” به شکل اعتراضات خشونتآمیز در جریان بوده، بیسابقه و درواقع نگرانکننده است.
ششمین اصل پروژه «بحث آزادی بیان» میگوید: ” ما نه مرتکب تهدیدهای خشونتآمیز میشویم و نه ارعاب و خشونت را میپذیریم.” تظاهرات مرگبار در سراسر جهان، که ظاهراً به خاطر خشم ناشی از فیلم «معصومیت مسلمانان» که تصویری ناشایستی از محمد پیامبر ارائه میکند، بوده است؛ منجر شد تا دولتها، ارائهکنندگان خدمات اینترنتی و گوگل برای قطع دسترسی به این ویدیو تحت فشار قرار گیرند. حملات خشونتآمیز در هر شرایطی غیرقابلقبول است و باید آشکارا محکوم شوند، اما تسلیم شدن در مقابل ارعاب و خشونت هم میتواند خطرناک باشد.
چند روز پس از مرگ کریستوفر استیونز، سفیر امریکا در کشور لیبی، در جریان حمله شهر بنقاضی که ظاهراً به خاطر خشم از «معصومیت مسلمانان» درگرفته بود، کاخ سفید و استرالیا از گوگل خواستند تا ویدیو را با توجه به شرایط استفاده از خدمات خودش مورد بازبینی قراردهد، تقاضایی که با رد گوگل مواجه شد. اخیراً این شرکت ویدیو را مورد بازبینی قرار داده و به طور عمومی اعلام کرده بود که این کلیپ نه شرایط استفاده از خدماتش را نقض کرده و نه به منزله سخن تنفرآمیز بوده است، چراکه به طور مستقیم تحریک به خشونت نمیکند. در شرایط استفاده از خدمات یوتیوب هیچ اشارهای به خشونت یا تحریک به آن نشده است، اما در دستورالعمل کارگروه سایت آمده: “ما به سخنان تنفرآمیز اجازه نمیدهیم (سخنانی که به حمله یا تحقیر گروهی بپردازد بر مبنای نژاد یا قومیت، مذهب، معلولیت، جنسیت، سن، وضعیت جانبازان، و گرایش جنسی/هویت جنسی )”.
حقوقدان برجسته امریکایی و متخصص اولین اصلاحیه قانون اساسی، رابرت سی پوست به درستی معتقد است که «معصومیت مسلمانان» (که از اینجا میتوانید ببینید)، به گروهی بر اساس یک مذهب حمله نمیکند. اما به نظر میرسد که مسلمانان و اعتقاداتشان را “تحقیر میکند”. با عنایت به استانداردهای کارگروه یوتیوب، مشخص نیست که چرا این ویدیو پاک نشده است یا حداقل برچسب توهینآمیز نخورده است.
این ویدیو که در آن یک اسقف مدعی است که هیچ یهودی در اتاقهای گاز در جریان هولوکاست کشته نشده، با پیامی پیش از آن همراه است مبنی بر اینکه “مطلبی که در ادامه خواهید دید توسط کارگروه یوتیوب احتمالاً توهینآمیز یا نامناسب تشخیص داده شده است. تشخیص درست با بییندگان است.” این هشدار گویا ناشی از نشانگذاری (flagging) این ویدیو توسط بینندگان به عنوان نامناسب و تحت برچسبهای”محتویات نفرتانگیز یا توهینآمیز: مروج خشونت و کینه: مذهب” بوده است. بر اساس سیاست «محتویات تنفرآمیز» یوتیوب “اگر ویدیویی را که شما نشان کرده اید یا پیام گذاشته و گزارش داده اید هنوز پاک نشده، به این دلیل است که آن ویدیو سیاستهای سخنان تنفرآمیز ما را نقض نمیکند.” از آنجا که بسیاری از مخاطبان به روشنی پیام «معصومیت مسلمانان» را توهینآمیز قلمداد میکنند، نبود یک هشدار در ابتدای آن سؤال برانگیز به نظر میآید. هر چند که باید مدنظر داشت ویدیوهایی را که ممکن است دیگر ادیان هم به همان نسبت توهینآمیز بدانند و هنوز از یوتیوب پاک نشده یا برچسب «احتمالاً توهینآمیز» نخورده اند. مسیحیان نیز میتوانند با این ویدیو که در آن مسیح فقط یک پوشک به تن دارد و میخواند “من نجات خواهم یافت” و سپس با کامیونی بهزیرگرفته میشود، به همان اندازه خشمگین شوند؛ اما کماکان این ویدیو در دسترس است، با حدود 10 ملیون بازدید و هیچ هشداری از توهین.
عجیبتر از این اختلافهای آشکار، سکوت نسبتاً کامل شرکت گوگل در زمینه تصمیماتش میباشد. چنانکه در 26 سپتامبر، دو هفته پس از آنکه سفیر آمریکا در اولین دوره اعتراضات پیرامون این ویدیو کشته شد، حتی یک اشاره هم به ویدیوی «معصومیت مسلمانان» در وبلاگ رسمی گوگل، وبلاگ سیاست عمومی گوگل یا وبلاگ یوتیوب نشد. هر چند که این شرکت، چندین بیانیه را برای مطبوعات صادر کرد.
در 15 سپتامبر، بیانیه ای صادر شد مبنی بر اینکه: “ما به سختی کار میکنیم تا جامعهای بسازیم که همه بتوانند لذت ببرند و قادر باشند تا دیدگاههای متفاوت خود را بیان کنند. این امر میتواند چالش برانگیز باشد، چرا که آنچه در یک کشور مناسب (OK) است، ممکن است در جای دیگر توهینآمیز تلفی شود. این ویدیو – که به طور گسترده ای در اینترنت قابل دسترسی است – به شکل واضحی در چارچوب دستورالعملهای ماست و به همین دلیل در یوتیوب خواهد ماند. هرچند که ما دسترسی به آن را در کشورهایی که غیرقانونیاش میدانند، نظیر هند، عربستان سعودی و اندونزی محدود کرده ایم، همچنین در کشورهای لیبی و مصر که دارای شرایط بسیار حساسی هستند. این رویکرد کاملاً با اصولی که ما از ابتدا و در سال 2007 برشمرده ایم، منطبق است.” این اصول، تصمیمات پیچیده و چالش برانگیز گوگل در موارد آزادی بیان و مطالب بحثبرانگیز آنلاین را روشن میکند. این پست وبلاگی سال 2007 همچنین به صراحت میگوید: “گوگل نه داور این است که در اینترنت چه چیزی باشد یا نباشد و نه میتواند.” اما آیا این دقیقاً همان رفتار شرکت گوگل در قطع داوطلبانه دسترسی به ویدیو «معصومیت مسلمانان» در مصر و لیبی نیست؟
در 26 سپتامبر، درخواستهایی از دولتها برای بازنگری یا فیلتر کردن «معصومیت مسلمانان» در 21 کشور جهان دریافت شده بود، که به برخی از آنها اشاره کردیم. در پاکستان، بنگلادش و افغانستان، که هنوز از نسخه محلی و جداگانهای برای یوتیوب برخوردار نیستند، گوگل درخواستهای حذف ویدیو را رد کرد. دولتهای این کشورها در پاسخ به این امر، یوتیوب را کامل از دسترس خارج کردند. بحرین، امارات متحده عربی، سودان و قرقیزستان «معصومیت مسلمانان» را فیلتر کردند بدون اینکه حتی درخواست حذفی به گوگل بفرستند. مالدیو، برونئی و روسیه هم تهدید به مسدود کردن دسترسی به این ویدیو نمودند، و یک حزب سیاسی عربی-اسراییلی تقاضا داشت که به شکل محلی سانسور اعمال گردد. لطفاً آخرین اخبار کشورتان حول این موضوع را در بخش نظرات که زیر این مطلب آمده بگذارید.
ژولیان سی یورک اعتقاد دارد که “هرچند قطع دسترسی به این ویدیو در [مصر و لیبی] و پس از خشونتهای وحشتناکی که در لیبی رخ داد به نظر اغواکننده باشد، اما این به بهترین وجه نه به نفع خود شرکت و نه مسلماً به نفع شهروندان آن کشورهاست که گوگل نقش تصمیمگیرندهای درباب قابل قبول بودن یا نبودن امری داشته باشد.”
تسلیم شدن گوگل مقابل ارعاب و خشونت در مصر و لیبی، شاید در کوتاه مدت بتواند جانهایی را نجات دهد، اما میتواند سنت خطرناکی را هم پایه گذارد، سنتی که جعبه پاندورایی از نارضایتی را باز میکند، در هر زمانی که مطلب بحثبرانگیزی طرح شود و برخی افراد یا گروهها دست به خشونت بزنند. در واقع این امر میتواند به یک سانسور بزرگتر و در نهایت خشونت بیشتر بیانجامد؛ در زمانی که مردم به این نتیجه برسند که کشتن مؤثرترین راه برای نشان دادن نارضایتیها و پیروزی در راهشان است.
برایان پلوت سردبیر آنلاین پروژه «بحث آزادی بیان» است.
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The story is a slightly more relevant take on an absurd phenomenon. What I have found more interesting is our apparent lack of awareness to the fact that we are automatically drawn into the debates on subjects that have been emphasised by mass media. Of course you would think this understandable and acceptable if you believed the media to be a benevolent force of pure truth. My point here is that free speech is limited to what we know and is therefore currently not free at all. We live in a speech oligarchy where the likes of Rupert Murdoch control what we talk and think about.
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In response to the question above my view is that using the film maker’s apparent breach of probation was an expedient ( and for the authorities somewhat lucky) means of appearing to act against the offending party, whilst at the same time being able to justify their actions to another audience as being nothing more than a routine observance of Local law. In the first instance it may go a little way towards appeasing the calls for blood but I think a valuable opportunity has been missed for a liberal democracy to stand up to theocratic bullying and to draw a real line in the sand to show where liberal secular values lie. This is set in the context of a broader gathering storm about the secularity of societies. There must therefore have been a ‘public good’ argument for resisting the calls to arrest the film maker on the basis that events as theybhave come to pass will have sent a signal, however ambiguous, that a democratic state will acquiesce to external violent pressure. There was surely a moral duty on behalf of the authorities to protect freedom of speech but even more importantly to ensure the protesters did not believe that their violent actions could influence the response of the State. This is akin to the payment of ransomed to kidnappers. The relatively trivial issue of a probation transgression could have been dealt with later when the dust had settled.
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Update: Google lifts censorship of IOM in Libya and Egypt:
http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/108233/youtube-unblocks-incendiary-video-temporary-censorship-still-censorship
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A lot of very interesting comments so far! Here’s another question for you – Do you think the filmmaker behind Innocence of Muslims was jailed for probation violations or because of the unrest IOM sparked around the world?
The LA Times frames this as a question of free speech here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-filmmaker-20121003,0,4693181.story
Feel free to chime in below, respond to the thread above or comment directly on my post.
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Russia, where the official religion is Orthodox Christian, is keen to pass a new set of laws, protecting the fragile “feelings of the believers”, and it seems that an offence to any religion, made by anyone anywhere is welcome as a precedent. The case against “Innocence of Muslims” in Moscow was started by Ruslan Gattarov, MP from Southern Urals and a member of the information policy Committee of Russian Federation. Yesterday, according to Gattarov, the video was given an “extremist” status by a court in Grozny (Chechnya); and Gattarov commented on the court’s decision as being “absolutely correct” and later twitted that there is no need to worry as Google will have to remove it. Gattarov is supported by the Russian Federal Surveillance Service for Mass Media and Communications, who forbid the Russian media to describe the content of the video so the “feelings of the believers are not offended”. However, yesterday the General State’s attorney too issued a statement which claimed that the video “had not yet been assigned an “extremist” status, the court in Grozny had only issued a recommendation to do so as a restrictive measure against its viral spread; the final decision has not been made yet”. At the time of writing the video is available to watch and is offered by a few independent Russian resources to download. The hearing in Moscow is scheduled on 1st October. An interesting twist on the situation is the appearance in the media of articles, which link the case of “Innocence of Muslims” to the case of Pussy Riot and claim that if the video is banned, it would prove to those still in doubt that the verdict, given to Pussy Riot, was also “absolutely correct”.
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The Innocence of Muslims has been banned in Russia and the full version removed from YouTube. The fragments, dubbed in Russian, are still available to watch with the following disclaimer “This video contains material that may offend the feelings of believers. The authors of the translation respect the religion and do not wish to offend people who watch this video. This fragment is for the educational purpose only, so people can see for themselves why the Muslims around the world protested”.
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The Holocaust was the industrial murder of millions of people. We do not permit denial and insist on its being remembered to make sure nothing like it happens again. It is not comparable with a foolish film on YouTube which no-one is compelled to view.
All of us could if we searched find something deeply offensive to us on the internet or in the press. But we do not do so and if we come across such an item we do not react with violence because we accept that we have no right not to be offended and indeed know that being offended is an uncomfortable but unavoidable part of life we must bear without violence for the sake of the communal integrity and peace and freedom. We know there are political or legal means to address such issues.
Muslim leaders should reflect on the upbringing that produces a sense of entitlement to such violent responses that are totally disproportionate to any real harm done and realise that freedom of expression in the entire world cannot be controlled by displays of irrational violence. Far from instilling terror and respect these reactions bring disrespect, ridicule and contempt on their faith because many people see them as weak and childish.
Intimidatory violence must never be rewarded, least of all by censorship,
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The reason why the example of holocaust has become recurrent to highlight selective free speech in west is because it is the only thing that pokes Western mind the same way as insulting the prophet Muhammad is the easiest way to enrage millions of Muslims. The philosophy of both these sides seems to hit the adversary where it hurts the most. When someone suggests that the Muslims should become desensitized about the derisive content on Muhammad they are simply unable to understand the world view of nearly 1.6 billion Muslims. Similarly, the Muslims with their roots in Asia and Africa are unable to understand Europe’s policies towards genocide as they did not live through the horrors of genocide like Europe did.
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Thank you Farooq for highlighting this extremely important point. The French philosopher Pascal Bruckner was explaining how we created in the West a certain scale when it comes to Genocides in which the Holocaust stands at the highest possible stage and the other genocides (Rwanda, Armenia, Gulag, etc.) follows behind. By establishing such a ranking, we imply that no genocide could reach such a level of atrocity as in the Holocaust, which is per se a good thing. Yet, we need to be very careful not to imply as well that because nothing can reach the top of the scale, nothing deserves as much attention or action.
If some Muslims are definitely unaware of what happened during WWII, many others understand it very well, but what they do not understand, and what we should all ask ourselves, is the following: are we remembering the Holocaust so that this very extreme case of genocide does not happen any more again, or are we doing so to prevent any racial, ethnic and discriminatory politics to rise again and be used against any human beings? Even though we call it the World War, for many people on this planet this war does not have the same meaning or significance, and yes, some might be more offended by publication of caricatures of their beloved prophet than they are about the publication of Mein Kampf; because these caricatures hurt them directly, they do not need to take a history class on Western history to understand their offensive character. Are we, in Europe, able to understand the atrocity of the Holocaust even if we have no connection with it whatsoever, but unable to feel similar empathy for modern-day issues, because they are not as atroce?
Hence, this idea of scale when it comes to genocide or freedom of expression is problematic. If we want to keep such a scale (why not?), we still need to be aware that it is a Western perspective and millions of people might disagree with our ranking.
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@Brian: My sense is that such a suit would have a better chance in (continental) Europe, where we have so-called portrait rights as part of copyright law.
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A judge in Los Angeles denied a request to remove IOM from YouTube. The request was made by Cindy Lee Garcia, who acted in the film and claimed she was misinformed and misled about its actual content.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/judge-innocence-of-muslims-youtube.html
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This is interesting. Does anyone else find it strange that there are voice-overs in the film whenever Mohammed or relations to Mohammed are mentioned? If the actors were led to believe by the producers that this project was something different, I would start to have second thoughts about the extent to which the producers are “champions” of free speech.
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Many years ago, I asked my Spiritual Master,” All the chaos in the world- who is responsible for it?”
The Master replied,” 2 classes of people who live by the philosophy of divide and rule – one is politicians and the other preachers.”
We should be aware and wary of these 2 classes of people.
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I think the best way to think about this to analogise from the law on on-line torts. Most countries have so-called “safe-harbour” provisions that protect internet service providers and other companies, including Youtube, from getting sued, as long as they respond to valid takedown notices and – and this is important here – as long as they have no actual control over their content. The more the website shapes what people write, the more likely it is that they can be sued. (There is a famous case about discrimination on Craigslist, in the housing section.)
This is an approach that makes sense. If a company voluntarily takes on the task to censor and shape what is written on its website, people should be able to sue it, but they should be able to opt-out of that responsibility in those cases where the volume of traffic, etc. is such that they cannot reasonably be asked to filter everything that is written/posted.
Applying this to the present controversy, the answer is that Youtube should be asked to follow its own terms of usage, which is in fact what the US government has done. The content of those terms of use, however, are none of the government’s business. As it happens, they are already much too restrictive for my taste, banning all sorts of things that puritan Americans don’t want to see, but that is strictly a matter for Youtube to decide. It is not OK to hold them responsible for something that is posted on their website if they haven’t promised in advance that they would filter out such content. In this case, Youtube has declared that this clip is consistent with their terms of use, and that is that.
The result of this approach is that in most cases websites like Youtube and Facebook will become public fora where people can post what they like. And that is all the better. We need such places on the internet. Given that such content is only found by people who actively go looking for it, I really don’t see the problem.
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In the Maldives, the government has officially banned the film and is trying to remove access to it on YouTube. The Communications authority has said that blocking YouTube altogether was “not practical”. There was a small protest outside of the UN building in Male’ where a US flag was burned. Some protesters bought their children carrying plastic AK47s. It was fairly low-key though and more a show of solidarity than a angry demonstration.
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Thanks for this, great article.
As the author points out, it seems to be difficult to work out whose ethical assessment to use for the question of whether the video should be online. There are 1) the producers of Innocence of Muslims; 2) Google; 3) governments around the world; and 4) Muslim protesters. If I had to go with one, I would choose governments, especially if they are democratically elected. Google’s “hate speech” community guideline has all the contradictions of defining who is a minority and who is not, and comes across as too Western for such a global debate. The good thing about governments is that I can always revolt. Google is further away.
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Sir: The bad thing about governments, especially those which have not been democratically elected, is that they can always ignore the revolt and carry on regardless. Google lives and dies by its IP and Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and these non-democratic governments, live as they please and only die when forcibly removed. I personally would pick the side of Google in this debate, as it seems to me that this would be the side of the law.
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Whose law?