May 07, 2005

LiveBlogging Protecting Bloggers

I'm now sitting in the Protecting Bloggers discussion being headed up by Mark Glaser.

-He's in a way echoing what I was saying yesterday about bloggers working together to keep cases (such as the Apple case) in the spotlight as well as groups like the Media Bloggers Association filing briefs in courts with cases dealing with First Amendment issues and individuals who run blogs.

-There's also talk of bloggers starting a pool of money between bloggers as a defense fund.

-Bloggers should have the same protections as journalists because they have an equal right to protection under the First Amendment just like journalists do.

-There's also a lot of discussion about helping bloggers (especially in repressive regimes) stay anonymous...and thus out of jail.

-The question is being posed whether anonymous blogging is good, bad, lacks credibility, etc. Eric from Classical Values is saying that there's a difference between anonymous bloggers in free countries and anonymous bloggers in oppressive regimes. Are anonymous bloggers in free countries credible or are they hiding behind anonyminity because they are not bold enough to stand up for their convictions?

-While I'm in here, it looks like TMTMTL is stirring up some discussion in another room.

-Robert Cox of The National Debate and the Media Bloggers Association is talking about the coming efforts of organizations such as the MBA and how he dealt with the New York times threatening him over his NYT satire. There are people out there with very deep pockets who can and will come after individual bloggers. The MBA along with the Pointer Insitute is also going to work together to educate bloggers on such topics as libel, legal issues, etc (and even on how to become better writers and citizen journalists).

-The guy from Radio Free Nashville is asking if there is any other oppression that exists against bloggers (ie...violence, etc). The discussion has gone to groups that are monitoring blogs along with taking part in blog manipulation (with comment spam, for example) to lower Google rankings for blogs that are criticle of companies that hire those groups.

-The "CNN spam attack" is also being discussed.

-The Guy formerly known as The Homeless Guy is saying that if companies start cracking down or oppressing bloggers, it may force more bloggers to become anonymous...thus the message will still get out there. Robert Cox is saying that if bloggers are not legally shielded to protect sources (as in the Apple case), the courts may compel ISPs to force them into finding out who those anonymous bloggers are. THG is saying that he feels he could remain anonymous no matter what (posting from cafes, etc). The guy from Radio Free Nashville is saying that the purpose of this discussion is to keep this from happening in the first place...Protecting Bloggers.

-Back to the Apple cases. The core questions for bloggers...the government is grappling with the question..."are bloggers journalists." Next month will be interesting because there will be FEC discussions and the Apple cases will be moving forward. The MBA (via Robert Cox) was created as a way to help bloggers with this issue (by the way...I am a member). Whether or not the MBA members may agree on "issues," the purpose is to push blogging as journalism.

-Good overall discussion. Now I may take a nap. :)

Further reading:
-Reporters without Frontiers
-The Committee to Protect Bloggers
-The Chilling Effects Clearinghouse

-Michael Silence: "A chill in the air"

BlogNashville

Comments:

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I think that this day forth, Mr. Barbieux should be referred to as "the Homed Guy."

Posted by: Tim Morga at May 7, 2005 04:23 PM

Along the lines of the CNN thing, I just got an interesting e-mail.

Posted by: Chris Wage at May 7, 2005 04:40 PM

Which I now realize was not included due to HTML restrictions:

http://chris.quietlife.net/2005/05/07/spam-2/

Posted by: Chris Wage at May 7, 2005 10:59 PM