Is the Internet a Free Medium?

The Internet is a medium that cannot be restricted, but it needs laws as a new medium, participants of the round-table concluded.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – After the Croatian Blog Organisation sent an open letter to Croatian Justice Minister Ivan Simonovic and Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko regarding, as they say, the constant police persecution of blogging citizens and blogging reporters, a round-table conference took place at the European House entitled “Freedom of the media in the Republic of Croatia – Is the Internet a free medium?”. 

The joint conclusion of all participants of the first of eight conferences that will deal with issues about which Croatia is negotiating with the European Union, is that better laws are needed on voicing stances on the Internet as a new medium.

Among the speakers were the head of the Police Directorate Office, Krunoslav Borovec, Natasa Djurovic from the Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK), freelance reporter Zeljko Peratovic, Social Democrats’ Nenad Stazic, Ivana Spehar Jankovic of the County Court in Zagreb, the president of the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND), Zdenko Duka, while the moderator was Ariana Vela.

Krunoslav Borovec warned during his speech warned that computer crime was increasing, especially when it comes to child pornography, adding that the police had to monitor the Internet in line with the Declaration on Cyber Crime.

Alongside bullying, cyberbullying 

- On the Internet we see various forms of crimes, such as identity theft, copyright violations and, also, there is a new form of abuse, so-called cyberbullying with which more and more children are faced with – Borovec said, adding that it is estimated that the Internet could become an “infrastructure” for various terrorist groups and organised crime.

Following claims that police are interviewing at police stations citizens who publish on their blogs their opinions and stances against the government, Borovec said this was untrue, adding that police were bringing in people who are calling for racial hatred.

Although no concrete solutions were achieved at this conference, it is the joint conclusion of the participants that the Internet is a medium which cannot be restricted, but that laws need to be passed that would allow all of its users unhindered voicing of their stances.