Digital Anthropology

Worth discussing

"Netizens warned against 'liking' photo Published: 19/10/2012 at 06:04 PM Online news: Thai web users have been warned against sharing or "liking" the controversial picture of a Thai reporter standing near a photo of the late Cambodian king visible in a newspaper placed on the ground. Information and communication technology (ICT) permanent secretary Chaiyan Peungkiatpairote warned that anyone doing so may be in breach of the computer crimes law. At a press conference on Friday he appealed to the Thai social network users not to forward or click "like" on the photo or messages associated with it, saying doing so may lead to conflict between the two countries. It may also violate the Computer Crimes Act 2007, which prohibits the dissemination of content deemed threatening to national security. The law provides for a maximum five-year jail sentence, he said. Mr Chaiyan also urged the general public to refrain from disseminating or otherwise circulating the image to help maintain good bilateral ties between Thailand and Cambodia. Cambodia's social media network was abuzz on Wednesday over a photo of Thapanee Eadsrichai, a well-known reporter from Channel 3, in which it appeared she was standing over newspaper photos of King Sihanouk placed on the ground. The photo drew extensive criticism from both Cambodians and Thais. The journalist and her Channel 3 bosses quickly apologised. Ms Thapanee said she had no intention of showing disrespect to king Sihanouk and the newspaper wasn't actrually near her, it just appeared so from the angle the photo was taken. The Thai Foreign Ministry also stepped in to clear the air over the issue. The Cambodian government said in a statement released on Thursday that all Cambodian people should avoid ill-intentioned attempts by some political groups to use the case to stir instability in the country and cause problems with neighbouring countries. "

This is an interesting case where even "liking" a photo could be deemed a "computer crime" in the Thai context. It is worth noting there that relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been tense for a variety of reasons, and that in both countries placing an image of a respected person below one's feet (which are considered dirty) is deemed a grave insult.

Some examples of current work being done in the area of digital anthropology

Another commentary on the "correct" way to manage copyright in relationship to code.

Another article focusing on the problem of profiteering and tax avoidance by academic publishing companies. Although this might be seen as a UK issue, this affects our ability to do research in Germany too. I can't count the number of times that I've looked for articles and found that the SUB does not subscribe to the journal in question. No doubt the reason for this is the pricing models that the publishing houses are employing.

An interesting interview for considering the relationship between anthropology and the digital revolution. There is some genuinely creative thought here on what anthropology needs to do to engage with the current and to remain (or become again) relevant.

Distinction between "extractive" and "exclusive" states -- and how this logic could be applied to entities such as Twitter.

Interesting take on the performance of self in online contexts.

Connections between expressing racism and social media?

One point of view on WoW regarding the way introductions of tools that reduce sociality have been responsible for the decline in the number of players.

Something on the ubicomp issue -- and in this case the way that tracking technologies intersect with religion.

If you're interested in issues of social equality, debt, finance, etc -- AND the internet, you might like to read this long review of David Graeber's book "Debt: The Last 5,000 years". If you follow Hart here, the internet offers something much greater than just a means of communication -- it could offer a necessary element in creating new, more "human" forms of social interaction.