Thinking about posting your views about the government or tweeting about it? Stop. Think Again. In this day and age with governments maturing towards Social Media Awareness (at an excruciatingly slow pace) they are closely monitoring social networks for security reasons. Even with though it can get pretty difficult to gauge a person’s emotion entirely from their tweet or updates, governments of many countries aren’t taking chances anymore.

This year America’s Department of Homeland Security reportedly paid more than $11 million to General Dynamics for a system to keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter public posts, as well as comment threads on major news websites. The system watches public social media posts for comments that “adversely reflect” on the government, and for responses to proposed government plans.

Individuals have no problem with other private individuals reading their commentary in online writings and postings in open forums, but may obviously feel a bit of unease knowing the federal government may be doing the same thing.

Although there are clear advantages to monitoring social media to identify possible threats to national security, there are also privacy and civil liberties concerns implicit in this activity. Governments need to be mindful of the rights of the citizens to express themselves online

The Indian government’s recent decision to prosecute social networking sites like Google and Facebook has triggered public anger, with netizens saying the move is tantamount to clamping down on constitutional rights of free speech and individual liberty. The Indian government’s decision to prosecute social networking sites like Google and Facebook has triggered public anger, with netizens saying the move is tantamount to clamping down on constitutional rights of free speech and individual liberty. The truth is that Facebook, Google, Twitter are just means to communicate; they can’t be blindly prosecuted for what people post or say over there. A hearing for the same is scheduled in aa Delhi-based court Mar. 12th

There are various examples of a country’s government taking the issue too far. Take for instance, Paul Chambers, a British man who was fined 385 pounds ($612) and ordered to pay legal costs after he posted a message on his twitter feed saying he would blow up Robin Hood airport in northern England if his flight was delayed.

Chambers argued the tweet sent in January 2010 was obviously a joke aimed at his Twitter followers but the courts decided that the message was menacing and convicted him under legislation that makes it illegal to send menacing or offensive messages. Another extremely grave incident is that of a Saudi journalist accused of insulting the Prophet Mohammed on Twitter. The tweets are nothing but personal opinions but the Saudi government hasn’t taken too kindly to his tweets as they consider it an offense punishable by death! The move came despite concerns from rights groups that he may be persecuted at home.

It is increasingly getting obvious that governments are taking monitoring social networks for security concerns more seriously. The question still remains where one draws the line… with the monitoring or even expressing their opinions for that matter.

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