Warsaw, 30/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Last Thursday and Friday, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a conference in Krakow on the freedom of the media in Europe and neighbouring countries, particularly those belonging to the Eastern Partnership. During this meeting, a large part of the debate focused on recent and increasing developments affecting social media. Coverage of the Arab Spring by actors who had participated in the Jasmin revolution is the most pertinent example of the democratising effect provided by social media. The question of citizen journalism, which is not subject to the same deontological rules that exist in the profession, still needs to be addressed. Nothing at all, however, can guarantee complete accuracy of information transmitted over the internet or even the verification of the different sources quoted.
Luis Valero Melgar, the Spanish minister for foreign affairs, said that “the internet is a new and relatively inexpensive tool in the management of this information revolution”. This means of broadcasting information is particularly appropriate among the young and most active sections of society. “Although only 32% of Tunisians and 20% of Egyptians have internet access, increased communication created by it means that the 'snowball effect' is particularly appropriate”, explained the minister.
Elisabeth Linder, the director of the London Facebook office, explained that a significant part of this social network consists of the demand for the authenticity of the profiles managed. She said that each profile was a real person and commentaries made on personal profiles meant that political problems raised by Facebook friends would automatically become part of our virtual reality, which in turn imprints itself upon daily life. (VW/transl.fl)