Internet and politics - E-talk (PHILWEB.COM )

The last few weeks have seen headlines, demonstrations and rallies that give many of us a feeling of déja vu. Is this 2000, or is this 1985 all over again? From my office overlooking the corner of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas, there is the all-too-familiar scene of confetti raining on a mass of people applauding emotional speakers fighting for their cause. Many of these people were here 15 years ago, and are back again now. Even some of the speakers on the podium are the same. So similar in many ways.

But there are differences, too. SMS, popularly known as "text messaging," has become a new medium of information sharing. I can’t believe the number of jueteng jokes I’ve received on my cellular phone!

Another difference is the role of the Internet. There has been a slew of websites launched over the past weeks. Some are pure information sites, i.e. they contain articles, editorials and opinions on the ongoing political fiasco. Then, there are others that are a bit more innovative. There are sites that poll their visitors, asking them to express their opinion on the various relevant issues that we are all currently concerned about. There are also websites that utilize the audio-video features of the Internet to provide their viewers with an even wider experience. Have you heard the taped conversation between Chavit and Ricaforte? E-groups and chat rooms provide many of us with our little podium to "broadcast" our opinions. Then, of course, if you have not received an e-mail asking you to join an "e-rally," perhaps you’re behind the times. Imagine, a rally with no rain, no aching feet, no pushing and shoving…but then there’s also no confetti, no emotional speeches, no camaraderie.

I believe that one of the true powers of the Internet is that it is an aggregator. It is an aggregator of information. An aggregator of communities...of demand. It is an aggregator of opinion. Since the current penetration of the Internet is still relatively low, other information mediums like TV, radio and print may be more powerful disseminators of information. However, I do not believe that they have nearly the same capability to aggregate information as the Internet.

How many websites do we have today just on this latest issue of jueteng? Add to that all the news websites, e-groups and chat rooms that are all bustling with data, statistics, jokes and chismis about the current political environment, and you have a wealth of information that is readily available at a click of a mouse.

Another special characteristic of information flow within the Internet is that much of it is interactive. Communication over the Internet is multi-directional. Someone who receives information through the Internet can react by posting his or her opinion on e-bulletin boards, participating in e-group or chat room discussions, or voting in online polls. Then, these reactions or the voting results themselves become additional data or information. And when it comes to politics and democracy, this information on the decisions or opinions of the people is critical. Can we therefore say that the Internet, because it aggregates communities and opinions, is a tool of democracy?

Perhaps, but we must also remember that, just as with many mediums, it is not a perfect tool. Because of the public nature of the Internet, many times we are not fully aware of the source of the data we have retrieved. We may also be unaware of the motive or purpose of the person who "published" the information. Conversely, it is also difficult to ascertain the destinations where information made available through the Internet will reach. As such, a user of this information must always take this "with a grain of salt."

The speed in which information is transmitted may also be an area of concern. I vaguely recall from the days I lived abroad election rules in certain countries where the results of exit polls or early vote counting were not allowed to be published until after all voting stations were closed. These rules were necessary to avoid the chance that an undecided minority may be influenced by early results. After all, it is human nature to try to be associated with the winning team. Remember the now-famous term balimbing?

At the end of the day, an individual must make his or her own decision, and form his or her own opinion. Through the Internet, this decision will hopefully be a more informed one, and this opinion may have a way of being expressed or shared with others.

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