It was a bad year, 2018 was, as far as freedom of speech in the news media was concerned. A pivot that continues well into the current year and one that shows no signs of changing anytime soon.
Things that were acceptable in March were unacceptable by August and things no one would raise eyebrows at in August were not kosher by November. Some journalists, a group helmed by a recently unemployed Matiullah Jan, have taken to satire to convey their views, not realising that satire is even less acceptable than played-straight critical punditry to the powers that be.
Speaking of satire, the silencing of voices is getting so bizarre that it is difficult to differentiate real news from one of the many satirical sites that have cropped up of late. The recent FIA memo on journalists and activists who had put up display photos of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi on their Facebook accounts in a display of solidarity during the visit of the Saudi crown prince was the stuff The Dependent is made of.
Some of the text within: A targeted social media campaign was planned/executed against the visit during which few social media activists and groups remained particularly consistent/active till the very last day of the visit.
Goes on to list some of the journalists accused of this heinous, heinous crime. Under Details, it says: “These activists displayed the picture of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khoshogi (sic) on their social media profile DP’s which conveyed a very disrespectful message to the visiting dignity/guest.”
Stay tuned for the madness to get worse. It’s going to move on to following a Facebook group or Twitter account. Then, it’s going to be what one has liked or reacted to. Then, through data mining and the AI-enabled teasing out of correlation between having followed and reacted to other media and having followed and reacted to offensive media.
