Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. guideline (n.) – set of instructions or principles that guide a certain action
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. guideline (n.) – set of instructions or principles that guide a certain action
Example: Guidelines
should be considered to keep the contest fair.
2. block (v.) – to stop
or prevent one to enter a certain area
Example: Security guards block the bank vaults for safety.
3. comply (v.) – to
obey one’s rules or commands
Example: Passengers need to comply with rules to prevent accidents.
4. feasible (adj.) – can
be done or capable of being accomplished
Example: With enough budget, the new project is
very feasible.
5. contradict (v.) – to
say or do the opposite
Example: Unfair rules contradict a person’s freedom.
Article
Read the text below.
Read the text below.
India’s Information Technology
Minister, Kapil Sibal, said the government will not block social media websites in India. However, he believes
Internet firms must still follow the country’s media laws.
Last year, the Indian government
introduced new guidelines, which make
Internet companies responsible for the content of their sites. According to
Sibal, the rules would make sure offensive
materials are not posted on the Internet.
But some people fear the guidelines
will lead to full blocking of sites and free speech. In January, the Delhi
High Court required Internet firms such as Facebook and Google India to check
and remove offensive materials, especially those that offend religious
groups, from their websites. The court said these firms must comply, or else they would have the
sites blocked, like what was done in China.
The two web companies are part of 21
Internet firms accused of allowing materials that may cause “public unrest”
to be posted on their websites.
Sibal, however, stresses the
government is not involved in such court cases, and that the cases are
between the Internet companies and individual citizens. He says the
government is only concerned that websites follow the same laws as other
print and electronic media.
Meanwhile, Google and Facebook said
they have complied with court orders by removing inappropriate content. But
with billions of uploads from people around the world, Internet companies say
it is not feasible to check every
post or prevent people from uploading materials.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do
you agree with government censorship of websites?
·
What
ways can be done to make sure bad information does not spread online?
Discussion B
·
How
important is freedom of speech?
·
What
should be the limits of this freedom?
