The Media Law Forum (MLF) launched its first international publication, The Youthquake: Emergence of the Fifth Estate vs The Captured Fourth in Asia, in Colombo on Monday (07).

The book, led by Senior Media personality Dr. Ranga Kalansooriya with co‑authors Eva Danayanti, Mandana Ismail Abewickrema, Nazia Afrin Monami, Sonia Awale and Betty Han, examines the political and communication dimensions of youth protests and the evolving role of digital media across Asia. 

Drawing on experiences from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Indonesia, it offers a comparative journalistic analysis of Gen Z uprisings and social media activism.

The first copy was ceremonially presented to Venerable Thrikunamale Ananda Maha Nayaka Thera. The launch was attended by Indigenous leader Uruwarige Wanniyala Aththo, members of the Maha Sangha, former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe, political leaders, academics from Sri Lanka and abroad, media professionals, civil society leaders, and clergy.

The Youthquake is a joint publication of International Media Support Denmark and Media Law Forum Sri Lanka, the result of a year‑long field research project across five countries. 

It features contextual analysis by four female journalists from the respective nations, underscoring the diversity of perspectives on the rise of the Fifth Estate in Asia. (Newswire)

The post MLF launches first international publication on Asia’s ‘Fifth Estate’ appeared first on Newswire.

Google should take responsibility for allowing the Sri Lankan government to introduce draconian social media controlling laws, media expert Dr Ranga Kalansooriya told a forum recently.

The government waited for more than a year to pave the way for a tech industry- led self-regulatory mechanism and 16 tech companies agreed, but Google delayed their response for more than 15 months, and there is still no response, he added.

The Sri Lanka Government gazetted a new Online Safety Bill last week and included it into the Parliament order paper recently.

Addressing a forum organized for social media activists by the media unit of the United Republic Front in Colombo, Dr Kalansooriya urged all possible social media users to challenge the Bill in courts. 

“In the absence of good practice elsewhere in social media regulations, mainly in Asia, a group of civil society organizations started negotiations with Singapore based Asia Internet Coalition to draft an industry code on Sri Lanka focused harmful content. Talks were successful and almost all Big Tech companies including Meta, X (Twitter) and even Google agreed to the process. This, we started almost two years ago.

“However, we came to know that Minister Ali Sabry, the then Justice Minister, was drafting a social media regulatory bill based on the Singapore law. Then we met both Minister Ali Sabri and the then Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma together and briefed our effort which was called SafeWebLk. Both ministers gave their blessings and Minister Alahapperuma during a Cabinet media briefing gave an assurance that the government will not bring the law,” he said

Dr Kalansooriya said the Code was then drafted through countrywide consultations and key stakeholder interviews. The government was a partner in the process.

“After Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed the Presidency, the negotiations continued and there was a senior official from the Office of the President who met AIC and other Big Tech companies in Singapore in May and gave assurance that the government will not bring laws if the Code gets materialised. The deadline to submit feedback by the tech companies was July 30 and the office of the President agreed to this deadline as well,” he said.

In this backdrop all other companies gave their feedback except Google and there is no response from them until today, Dr Kalansooriya said, adding that dealing with Google has become extremely challenging compared to other tech companies like Meta and TikTok.

The government waited more than two months after the deadline lapsed, therefore, Google must take responsibility for this situation, he added.

“If global tech companies are behaving in such an irresponsible manner, how can we stop governments bringing draconian laws?” he questioned.  

Dr Kalansooriya said, however, all responsible social media users should take every possible measure to defeat this Bill. (NewsWire)

The post Sri Lanka social media bill : Google blamed appeared first on Newswire.