COMMENT | To ditch or not to ditch readers’ comments

COMMENT | What sets Malaysiakini apart from traditional media is its readers' comments section, which can be as informative as it is inflammatory.

Whether the news portal would dump this section, which at times borders on near anarchy, would depend on readers' conscience to be more discerning in reacting to political issues and persons of public interest.

While those anonymous readers responsible for the "contemptuous" comments remain free and safe from prosecution, the Federal Court's freedom-killing judgment has been widely read as a punitive strike to muzzle open debate and civil discourse that Malaysiakini has promoted to varying success over the past 20 years.

Malaysiakini may or may not have the means and expertise to closely vet their readers' comments, which is extremely hard to screen apart from the algorithmic detection of keywords associated with hate speech, bigotry and incitement to violence.

However, the comments' guidelines are clearly stipulated and could be more effectively applied by the sub-editors and comments editor. Evidently, reactive readers have seldom followed these guidelines.

Notwithstanding the rare nuggets of wisdom from readers, the comments section has through time, and perhaps editorial oversight, devolved into a swamp for unsubstantiated reactions, mutual antipathy, bad language, and general nastiness.

Online anonymity has led to what psychologists have termed as the "online disinhibition effect". When readers go anonymous, the constraints on bad behaviour – and thoughts – go out the window too. As it's said: "On the internet, no one knows you're a dog." One tends to bark wildly – at times at the wrong tree.

Even as readers expect the highest standard of fair and accurate reporting from journalists, and are willing to pay for it - judging by the overwhelming reader response within four hours to Malaysiakini's funding appeal - journalists likewise expect readers to be doggedly responsible for their comments.

One can endlessly expound on the judiciary's incursion into free expression, the right to press freedom, and so forth. But Malaysiakini's professed right to publish the "news and views that matter" without further threats of "contempt" charges goes hand in hand with readers' responsibility to substantiate their comments with available facts, clarified with context, considered for its consequence, and by-lined for accountability.

As the Malaysian Bar Association said in response to the judges' "exorbitant and excessive" fine on Malaysiakini that "… (while) freedom of speech is a feature of paramount importance in a democratic nation, the public is reminded to refrain from abusing this right by writing nefarious and malicious comments online and in the media."

Toxic reader exchanges have led various news organisations to dump its non-moderated comments section, given the propensity of the pseudonymous public to turn the privilege into a cesspool of vitriol and conspiracy bunkum.

Online anonymity has long given free rein to mindless bickering across the political spectrum and trolls to trivialise public issues with varying impunity. This must stop.

Unsurprisingly, news organisations are reverting to the more manageable letters section where editors run a fine comb through readers' letters for their accuracy, fairness and diversity of views that contribute to the conversation.

Even as journalists by-line their articles to acknowledge accountability for their reporting, it is time readers tag their real identity to their comments for what they are worth.

Readers' continuing failure to check, and check again, their comments for confirmation biases, inaccuracies, misleading contexts and unintended imputations may just give news portals a good reason to ditch the comments section to avert future ambiguous charge of scandalising the court and offending delicate attorney-generals.

ERIC LOO is the founding editor of the academic journal Asia Pacific Media Educator.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.