sector in the years ahead? Art-Tec Design

the internet should debatably not be ‘free’ and unregulated in this regard. However, who can be trusted to decide what is and isn’t acceptable – and how is that different to those that already decide what is taught in schools and institutions? expressing opinions that do not fit with a ‘popular narrative’ has historically courted controversy and ‘persecution’, often by those who superficially denounce persecutory behaviour by virtue signalling.

Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, London, uK has been considered by many as an enshrinement of free speech.

Many unpopular opinions and unpopular speakers subsequently went on, often posthumously, to be noted for their innovative and challenging smart ideas, but often attacked and humiliated at the time of expression of thought.

However, any would-be ‘speakers’ in the ‘Speakers Corner’ areas of LinkedIn, Facebook, twitter and more mainstream but heavily used ‘communal digital parks’ would likely be hunted down and excluded like virtual lepers, if they were brave enough to constructively criticise the shape of the current International Women’s Day, disagree that racism can only be applied to certain races and not others, propose a new economic approach to poverty mitigation beyond basic fund-raising and inefficient distribution activities, make a strong case for eating meat, call out the hypocrisy of potentially stamping on one part of community to further the interests of others through defective implementation of positive discrimination... and other issues which deserve scrutiny, open discussion, and… ‘free thought’. your ethics are not my ethics and your state’s ethics might not be aligned with my state’s ethics; my ancestry’s foundation of ethics may be wildly different from or similar to yours. However, most people are now using digital products and services. your idea of defamation may be different in another country, your idea of hate speech against an institution or government may also be contradictory, my idea of liberal ideas may be countered by your conservatism. Whilst many states laud and promote their own self-interested efforts in creating a Digital 4.0 or 5.0 platform, they haven’t yet even organised, analysed, updated and self-regulated their own ethical standards, or considered those of others. Digital convergence of information exchange does not by default result in converging ethical standards; minority Desmond Hughes voices and opinions still need room to express, be heard and be criticised. the next time you think or express an issue virtually, what would you change or not change, if you considered the analogous physical interaction; are your ethical standards consistent? Do you want laws which reflect that, and do you trust your governing state to get this right?

read online By Desmond Hughes, Senior Partner of Hughes Krupica. Hughes Krupica is a law firm which specialises in real estate; Construction; Hospitality; Corporate; Commercial; Personal Injury; Dispute resolution; and Litigation, operating in Bangkok and Phuket, servicing clients in relation to their business activities in thailand and in other regions of Asia. www.hugheskrupica.com