October 2, 2007

Scariness

Monash just loves to send their students bulk emails. It tends to get annoying la sometimes. But today I got this email that piqued my curiousity. The subject title was "Blogging". Well, since I'm a blogger, obviously it got my attention. And I dunno why, but Monash is famous for keeping track of students that write bad stuff about them on their blogs. Some people got caught last sem. So anyways, here's some part of the email I got:

NOTICE TO STUDENTS

RE: BLOGGING

It has recently come to the attention of the University that there have
been several blogs written by students on the internet which were
derogatory in nature and made against the University and its lecturers
("the Blogs").

As such, we wish to bring to awareness that there are laws in Malaysia
and disciplinary policies at Monash University relating to such matters.
The words used in the Blogs could be construed as defamatory or seditious
words and constitute offences under the said laws and policies, thereby
placing the blogger ("the Offender") in danger of attracting legal action
and/or disciplinary action against him/her.

Definitions
Words are "defamatory" in nature if the words "tend to lower a person in
the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally" (per the
Defamation Act 1957) or if the words "makes or publishes any imputation
concerning any person, intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to
believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of such person"
(per the Penal Code (Revised 1997)).

Words are considered "seditious" if they have a tendency to bring into
hatred or contempt, excite, raise discontent or disaffection, promote
feelings of ill-will and hostility against another person or party (per
the Sedition Act 1948).

Consequences/Dangers for using defamatory or seditious words in blogs
There are numerous legal and/or disciplinary actions which may be taken
against the Offender:-
(i) a civil action for defamation may be initiated in court by the
University and/or the offended lecturer against the Offender;
(ii) a criminal action for sedition may be commenced in court by the
Authorities against the Offender;
(iii) the University may take disciplinary action against the Offender
for committing a misconduct under the Students Disciplinary Policy;
(iv) the University may take disciplinary action against the Offender
for committing an offence under the Acceptable Use of Information
Technology Facilities By Students Policy.

Advice to Students
In view of the above and in view of the very public nature of the blogs,
the University advises all students as follows:-
(i) to exercise caution when blogging or making any other postings on
the internet so as to avoid writing anything which may be defamatory or
seditious in their blogs or postings;
(ii) to immediately remove any blogs (together with its entire blog
trail) or postings which could be defamatory or seditious in nature;
(iii) to lodge any grievances or complaints through the proper channels
made available at the University, such as through:-
(a) the University's Counselling Services;
(b) MUSA Education Affairs Committee;
(c) the University's Student Services Department;
(d) the Course Managers of the respective Schools.

The University also encourages students to at all times maintain and
uphold (and not tarnish nor prejudice) the good name and reputation of
Monash University as being a premier international university as a good
name and reputation serves to benefit not just the University but also
the students.

Please be so advised.

Thank you.

I don't think I've written anything 'defamatory' about Monash.

I really hope I didn't do anything cause this is just S.C.A.R.Y.

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