Mikhal Boni: We understand the importance of internet for opposition in Belarus

The Minister of Administration and Digital Technologies of Poland Mikhal Boni made a speech at a conference on journalists’ security, which has started on 23 April in Warsaw.

“We are living in the digital time. The digital age creates new opportunities and new threats for journalists. The internet provides journalists with new tool to reach a wider audience with real time recording. Internet-based journalism also generates new threats to the safety of journalists, in particular in non-democratic countries.  And we should express that the internet also redefines the role of governments who need to act to protect the freedom of speech around the world and the safety of journalism”, - the minister Boni stated.

According to a charter97.org’s reported, the Minister of Administration and Digital Technologies noted that the internet has changed media.

“The internet has changed media. The internet has transformed the world of media, creating new opportunities to reach wide audience instantly. It also changes the role of a journalist, who is now expected to provide real-time information as well as photos and films directly from the place of events. Very often these places are very dangerous.

New media mean new journalists. Internet has expanded the definition of a journalist. There are more and more freelance reporters. Under the definition of citizenship journalism anyone can be a reporter. Along with traditional media we now have social media, which are as important in proving people with information on Facebook, Twitter. The consequence of this is the ban or limitations in their usage in some countries.

Media is a key to democratic changes.  Journalists, who are in the opposition to the government, have now more tools to have their voice heard. This is especially important for those, who report from non-democratic regimes, where the freedom of speech is limited. We all know how important social media were in the transformations called the Arab Spring or for the democratic opposition in Belarus”, -  Mikhal Boni said.

In the Minister’s opinion, “the responsibility for journalists’ security must be on governments”:

“They need to take action to protect the freedom of speech all around the world. Governments must work together to make sure the internet is be free and open around the world. We must not forget that the freedom of speech is the basis of democracy. Governments also need to work to improve the access to the internet in the developing world, in particular, for Europe’s neighboring countries. Access to internet is slowly becoming a fundamental right”.

The conference on journalists' security is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, the embassies of Austria and Switzerland in Warsaw and the Polish Institute of Foreign Affairs.