The last few days have been very uncomfortable for the UK government with the publication of damning e-mails which contained unfounded and untrue allegations about a number of Conservative MPs. It has been alleged that a number of parties within number 10 Downing Street were looking to circulate these scurrilous rumours in the hope of destabilising the Conservative Party in the run up to the next general election. This has now prompted the question, is the world of Internet blogging out of control?
There is no doubt that while there are significant benefits to the Internet there are some downsides which have to be controlled. The circulation of untrue information, potentially libellous rumours and other such tittle-tattle can and has caused significant problems around the world. The very fact it can be difficult to trace the exact source of any information repeated on the Internet has attracted the “shadow operators” seen in the political world and other areas of society. While there have been serious repercussions for the UK government in this particular instance, there are fears that the world of Internet blogging is out of control.
However, while there are a number of websites which will pedal incorrect and potentially libellous stories and rumours the vast majority of Internet bloggers “play it by the book”. Whether we see the introduction of tighter regulatory controls in the longer term remains to be seen but there is no doubt that it can be difficult to locate the true source of some information released and repeated in the blogshpere.