Regulating Social Media Key to Global Peace

The moral damage caused by the faceless Facebook icon dubbed Baba Jukwa on Zimbabwe is shameful. This makes society to regret the unbridled effects of Citizen journalism which is  accelerated by the availability of social media platforms like Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn and You Tube. This is propping-up the evil works of criminals who are becoming active on cyber-crimes and getting away with impunity.

The mainstream institutionalized media have been replaced by the internet based social media which is much easier to use, much quicker and much more effective. Sadly the advent of these social media networks came to destroy the pre-existing peace.

The internet has arguably replaced the role of the printed media in the field of terrorism. They can take whatever message and images they decide to, straight to the online world, which is global in reach. This is a clear testimony of Baba Jukwa's operations which amounted to charges of terrorism, banditry, sabotage and subversion which are faced by the Sunday Mail Editor Edmund Kudzayi.

Baba Jukwa's Facebook page caused a lot of alarm and despondency among Zimbabweans run-up to July 31, 2013 harmonized polls which marked the end of the inclusive government.

In contemporary times, terrorists use publicity specifically in their recruitment efforts. The internet, particularly social media clearly increased the scope of terrorist propaganda and activities, and became a perfect tool for terrorists in terms of advancing their operational goals with little expense and risk. Terrorists generally embrace the newest information, follow the latest technological developments to be innovative, and utilize the most up-to-date communication technologies. Baba Jukwa went viral on Facebook prior to polls with over 400 000 likes around election time.

Baba Jukwa posts were full of falsities which were never verified prior to posting. Citizen journalism was put to destructive purpose by heartless citizens who intentionally attacked government and all its systems. This page spurred alarm and despondence, and nearly tore-apart the whole nation. To restore peace we certainly need regulation of the internet and social media networks.

Architects of terrorism exploit the media for the benefit of their operational efficiency, information gathering, recruitment, fund raising, and propaganda schemes.  Terrorists are interested in winning the attention of the masses, and they also aim to publicize their political causes, inform both friends and foes about the motives for their deeds, and explain their rationale for resorting to violence. They further aim to be treated like regular, accepted, legitimate world leaders, as the media gives them a similar status. Baba Jukwa was seeking to be appropriated by publishing highly sensational and flammable content. In his ideological warfare, Baba Jukwa created an atmosphere of fear and suspicion, legitimize his acts, and reach greater audiences.

In modern democratic societies, the regulation of the media, specifically the internet, presents a fundamental dilemma due to the inherent tension between censorship and the democratic tradition of free speech, privacy, and press freedom, it is crucial to take countering measures against the cyber activities of terrorists. These measures can include tracking their activities on online forums, following their conservations and activities on social media, and prevent the spread of radicalizing materials from hostile websites.

In addition to that, enacting laws at national level to punish the ones using the internet to provoke the public, recruit and train, and propagandize can identify terrorists and prevent a potential attack.

Let's use the internet unbridled but with a sense of responsibility!