Chetan Bhagat and Rama Pandey in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 15: Popular author Chetan Bhagat and journalist-turned-documentary maker Rama Pandey locked horns at the “Big Fight” debate on “Censorship of Social Networking Sites” on the second day of Kritansh-12, the annual techno-management fest of KIIT University. Here are the excerpts:

Rama Pandey: Social networking sites initially served as platforms for connecting with friends and exchanging knowledge but have now turned into a Frankenstein’s monster. Media has to be regulated. If you have the freedom of expression, I have the right to be offended by your views. I agree that social networking sites must be censored but censorship does not mean a complete ban. There ought to be some checks and balances.

Chetan Bhagat: But censoring the Internet is practically impossible. Censoring is like holding a chhanni (sieve) that separates the good stuff from the unwanted. But who will hold this chhanni? The ministers? We all know how much we can trust them, especially after the 2G scam. Secondly, how big will the holes in the chhanni be? If the government gets the power of censorship, they will only use it to their advantage.

RP: Remember the topic is not who will censor social networking sites.

CB: But that is the logical corollary! I am most offended by politicians. Who will censor them? Several road accidents happen everyday but that does not mean we close the roads. I am scared that an author like me would not be able to write freely when he knows someone will censor his work.

RP: I am worried about the impact on social relationships. Parents have turned into spies in the attempt to keep an eye on their children. Militants are using Facebook to plan attacks. And I know this because my husband is a bureaucrat in Kashmir. Faceless people are misguiding young Internet users to use drugs or commit suicide.

CB: Someone says, “die” and you commit suicide? You are implying that Internet users have no judgement of their own and can be easily influenced.

RP: It is human nature to do exactly the opposite of what he has been asked not to do. We are most attracted to the forbidden fruit. Ask someone not to drink liquor and he will do exactly that.

CB: Many people drink in the US or the UK, but has it affected their progress?

RP: Many youngsters visit those kind of sites…

CB: You mean porn sites. Three ministers were caught watching porn clips in the Karnataka Assembly!

RP: The bottom line is that the virtual world is good for games but not to live in. What Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg did was for himself and his friends. Now he has so much money that he does not know what to do with it.

CB: I agree with you. There should be some checks and balances. But will you accept my friend request on Facebook?