As Web 2.0 continues to expand, the balance between responsible use, freedom of expression and censorship will continue to traverse a thin line. Take for example the recent example of Wikipedia, which was sued in Germany for its alleged sympathy with the Nazis.

One of the leaders of the Left Party, Katina Schubert initiated the process because she claims that the Wikipedia in German language brandished too much Nazi symbols. More than just that, she also said though the Sydney Morning Herald that the frequency of these images went beyond what was acceptable.

Arne Klempert of Wikipedia Deutschland said that these images were used only for educational purposes. In fact, effective documentation could also help prevent acts of atrocities from happening again, he added.

Nazi symbols cannot be displayed in Germany except when using it for educational purposes.

There you have the story. The Holocaust should not happen again, but the incident also is a reminder to Web 2.0 users to be more sensitive and responsible in using images and articles. On the other hand, authorities should not be overly sensitive to Web 2.0 posts since the Internet is the venue for exchange of concepts and ideas. Regulating Web 2.0 might still be a long way off from being implemented.

Tags: Web 2.0 · freedome of expression · web2.0No Comments