Tech Tent – Social Media Ban in Sri Lanka

Even a year ago, a government initiative to block access to social media would have sparked a public outcry.

On Tech Tent this week, we examine why the ban on the Sri Lankan government has received a more moderate response.

• Current the last Technical tent podcast on BBC Sounds

The decision to block groups such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube came after the devastating bombings of Christian worshipers and tourists in Sri Lanka, which killed more than 250 people.

Liberal commentators have already seen in previous attempts by governments to limit Internet access from dangerous attacks against online freedoms. But here's the title of a New York Times column from tech journalist Kara Swisher: "Sri Lanka, shut down social media My first thought was" good "."

She said she was ashamed to admit it, but the role of social media platforms in spreading hatred and misinformation made her happy about their temporary demise.

The column reflected a greater disappointment with the idea that the Web was a force for good.

In the Arab Spring, Facebook has been hailed as a new essential weapon in the battle against authoritarian governments.

Now, after being used to incite violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar and spreading the murderous frenzy of the shooter Christchurch, it appears in a much darker light.

But a Sri Lankan blogger and a social media activist give us a more nuanced view. "The jury is out," Sanjana Hattotuwa told us when asked for her opinion on the ban.

He created the country's first citizen journalism site to record government failures and attacks on civil liberties, but he admits that many have welcomed the widespread social media outage.

"I think it's been recognized that what the government did would help contain or control the spread of misinformation," he said.

But he thinks that over time, the ban could undermine the useful role that social networks can play. "The longer the blockage has been in place, the more disabling it becomes for families in mourning in this unprecedented time to communicate with each other.

"And also the wider perception of the public [is] that it is in fact a means that the government uses to control or contain increasing unpopularity and public criticism of its inaction leading to terrorist attacks. "

Mr. Hattotuwa acknowledges that there is a debate about the damage done by social media, but adds that it has become a vital means of communication in a country where we do not trust the government and the mainstream media.

Last year, as anger spread around the various data and privacy scandals, the hashtag #deletefacebook was popular in some Western countries.

But Mr. Hattotuwa does not believe that will happen in his country. "It will never resonate in a country like Sri Lanka, where social media is inextricably linked to the DNA of politics and society," he said.

Also on this week's schedule:

• While the UK seems ready to leave at least some role for Huawei in its next generation 5G networks, we wonder if China has won a major victory in the battle over confidence in its technology companies.
• And we meet Nadia Sood, whose mission is to use technology to give small businesses in India and elsewhere the capital they need to thrive.