Internet Video Of Alleged Rape Sparks Outrage In HK
HONG KONG: A disturbing video of an alleged rape circulating online has sparked outrage in Hong Kong.
Shot with a mobile phone camera, it shows a young woman struggling with two men seemingly in an office.
The incident has triggered more debate about controlling internet content in the territory.
The one minute 48 second clip showed the attacker wearing a uniform of a well-known Japanese restaurant chain.
Police arrested three teenage boys last week in connection with the case and warned of tough action against illegal uploading and distribution of the video.
The nature of the internet, however, made it virtually impossible for police to stop the clip from circulating.
This has sparked fears that a lack of regulation of the online world means it is becoming too easy for violent or private content to reach web users.
Mr Mike Yao, Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, said: “Digital technology, online technology, allows people to relatively easily acquire, distribute, exchange this type of information. And it’s difficult for the government to control.”
Media communication experts however stressed that people often jump to blame technology when inappropriate or private content is released, overlooking the benefits of the internet.
Mr Yao added: “We’re afraid of something that we don’t truly know and we have no control over. In this case, I think the obvious party to be blamed is, “wow, look how easily it is to share this information”, but again, yeah it was so easy to share this video but it’s also made it very easy to share other things too.”
The case follows a controversy in Hong Kong earlier this year, when naked photos of pop star Edison Chen and young starlets were widely distributed on the internet.
The seemingly endless boundaries of the internet can be seen as a blessing and a curse. And maintaining an open medium of communication versus protecting people’s privacy is sure to be an on-going debate in the public eye. - CNA/de
Channel News Asia