The discussion online often goes back to internet access and human rights. Right about the same time I was reading her post and commenting I received this mail from Mark who runs a popular blogs at TWOFOURTYEIGHTAM.
Hey John, well the incident is just 2 days old so it really hasn’t settled in yet. I honestly don’t have any nails left since I’ve bit them all in the past two days. It’s a freaky experience but the fact that there are so many supporters makes things wayyy easier for me.
In mid-December last year Mark posted a review of the newly opened Beni Hana restaurant in Kuwait City. The review is actually polite and very diplomatic. Living in France I read French food critics, they are raw and no blow is sparred attacking the work of professional Chef’s who need these reviews to make a living. Compared to those Mark’s post is a gentle pat on the back encouraging Beni Hana Kuwait to get their kitchen in order. Literally. So why all the fuss?
Are you Lebanese?
Burried in the 74 comments that the post generated (yep, the blog is popular) are a few astroturfing comments from the same IP and one from Mike Servo, general manager of the restaurant. His comment threatens Mark with legal action and then questions his ethnic background. ‘Are you Lebanese?’ I am still not sure what that has to do with anything.
The Middle East blogging world erupted, twitter is trending #benihanaKuw but unfortunately for them not for the right reasons and other bloggers are petitioning Beni Hana Tokyo to drop this ridiculous lawsuit.
What a communication disaster, instead of using the post as an opportunity to invite Mark to try their food outlet again and use his constructive criticism, Beni Hana Kuwait decided to try to suppress his voice. I guess the winds of change blowing over North-Africa have no reached Kuwait yet. Although interestingly the ruler of Kuwait has decided to grant $4 Bn and free food to its wealthy citizen.
If you want to learn how NOT to handle a crisis on your FB page visit Beni Hana Kuwait Facebook Page
Blogging and the corporate world
Internet access is restricted in many Middle Eastern countries through proxy’s which blocks ‘material inconsistent with the local religious, cultural, political and moral values.’ So where does your right as an expat to blog and access the internet stop?
Does your host country have the right to stop you from freely browsing the web and posting anything you want on your blog?
It is interesting that in this case it is not the state of Kuwait which is suing Mark but a private corporation. The fact that an international brand feels it should bully a local blogger for a post is quite telling. Some will see this as a lone Robin Hood’s crusade against an evil corporation. I don’t think so.
I believe this shows a real misunderstanding of what social media and especially blogging is all about. Astroturfing comments on Mark’s blog by Beni Hana and then deleting negative comments on their FB page are just a few examples of what not to do. Perhaps social media consultants will use Beni Hana Kuwait as a case study in the future.
Oh! and Mike Servo if you are reading this post, I am going to point you towards Lisa Barone’s excellent post 5 reasons NOT to delete negative reviews. You might not believe me, perhaps you will listen to her.
Legally speaking
The problem at hand is one of precedent. I don’t believe the events on the ground in Egypt or Tunisia and now Kuwait are influenced by social media. The court in Kuwait City doesn’t care what is trending on Twitter right now. As Mark explains in his email to me:
The future of blogging in Kuwait (and the region) really depends on the outcome of this lawsuit. If I lose then no blogger would wanna risk getting sued and so they will stop posting anything negative (and probably delete previously negative posts). If I win well life can go back to normal.
So after all the screaming and gesturing in the blogosphere, what really matters is what the court in Kuwait City decides. This will make a big difference first in Mark’s life, then to all bloggers in the Gulf region.
Ultimately what this really showed is that Mike Servo will probably have a hard time finding a new career if Beni Hana in Tokyo decides he is unfit to run their franchise.
What are your thoughts on blogging and freedom of speech?
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I think that you should have freedom of speech wherever you live. The ME wants to limit us expats but is an uproar when France bans the Burka for security purposes… I know unrelated but! same same but different!
The “Are you lebanese” is typical of here where their is a hierarchy based on nationality i.e. certain nationalities are deemed inferior and would explain why I as an American was paid twice that of my Egyptian counterpart… Westerners are paid more in the ME. Fair, absolutely not! Bred resentment from some of the females docs I worked with not a fun work situation.
Is this Mark Harai?
Thanks for a good one. Sorry I missed it earlier.
Hi Rajka,
I think what is really shocking about this story is not that the blogger is getting sued. Everyone has a right to sue. But that he is getting sued by a private US company, not the state of Kuwait.
No the blogger isn’t Mark Harai, another Mark. He just won his case against BeniHana. Which is excellent news for all bloggers in that region.
Hope your week started off great
If you haven’t listned to the last Mitch Joel-Joseph Jaffee podcast with Jonathan Salem Baskin you should. Hits the social media as a driver of social change very well.
So this is what I see John and later I will see if I can find and update on this. But I think the issue is the laws in oppressive countries giving corporations the right to stifle dissent or different opinions by using the same levers of oppression the Governments do.
You are right. Curious how many people in Kuwait read blogs and use Twitter. I bet more read blogs. Twitter is probably small only because with 25-35 million users world wide on a given day and 30% being in the US, if Kuwait had proportional representation on the site taking into account how many people have the internet world wide and could use the service the number would not be very high.
I also wonder John since you have more first hand knowledge. What happens to these oppressive governments when the oil runs out or we don’t need oil anymore? We only sell them arms because they can pay and we need the money. But one day they might not have the money and then what?
I don’t believe social media is a driver of social change. I had this discussion when the Egyptian revolution was called the FB revolution. When people want to change they will, the tools they use to communicate their discontent don’t matter.
The UAE has a very high internet penetration rate but not public discontent is going on there. Shall we talk about China?
Libya has 5% internet penetration, look at what is going on there.
They go back to living in tents and herding sheep (when the oil runs out.)
Hitting the blog late because of rabbits…. I choose to seldom/almost never tweet or blog anything that is sensitive in my host country, which is China.
So many of the expats here, look like the “grumpy/whiny” expats. They are forever commenting on the gov., human rights, etc… Those topics, although important, have very little or 0 affect on the expat commenting on them. They do it, because of the “love/hate” syndrome expats can develop. They like living where they do but want to throw jabs when and where possible and show how they are “in the know” or are better refined than those whose presence they grace (said with sarcasm).
In fact most of the expats living in China are highly blessed, live better here than they do at home and should be very thankful to the government for the opportunities given them.
It’s not that I don’t have opinions on the matter or am not updated on the happenings, but it’s how it reflects on my company and brand. We position ourselves as a knowledgeable and expert company in promo/branded merchandise. If I’m spending time commenting and rolling my eyes over sensitive info (political, religious) how can I expertly and deftly handle production issues without getting my feelings involved? My clients don’t want to know my opinion on politics, they want to know how to manufacture and export from China.
Not sure if I’m off-base from the subject; was (attempting) to chime in on Gini’s original comments. Good post John and good sharing from all, thank you.
Hi Jacob, actually I don’t like expat who go on about poor human rights records of the country they live in. If they don’t like there, nobody is forcing you to stay there. Do something about it or shut up.
This is case is different, its a Multinational based in the good old US of A that is actually attacking the blogger. Ironic right?
A US company trying to curb freedom of speech. Speaking of China wonder how the Groupon ad went down with their reference to Tibet?
Thanks for stopping by Jacob, used your example in today’s post! Thanks for showing us the way in China.
Hitting the blog late because of rabbits…. I choose to seldom/almost never tweet or blog anything that is sensitive in my host country, which is China.
So many of the expats here, look like the “grumpy/whiny” expats. They are forever commenting on the gov., human rights, etc… Those topics, although important, have very little or 0 affect on the expat commenting on them. They do it, because of the “love/hate” syndrome expats can develop. They like living where they do but want to throw jabs when and where possible and show how they are “in the know” or are better refined than those whose presence they grace (said with sarcasm).
In fact most of the expats living in China are highly blessed, live better here than they do at home and should be very thankful to the government for the opportunities given them.
It’s not that I don’t have opinions on the matter or am not updated on the happenings, but it’s how it reflects on my company and brand. We position ourselves as a knowledgeable and expert company in promo/branded merchandise. If I’m spending time commenting and rolling my eyes over sensitive info (political, religious) how can I expertly and deftly handle production issues without getting my feelings involved? My clients don’t want to know my opinion on politics, they want to know how to manufacture and export from China.
Not sure if I’m off-base from the subject; was (attempting) to chime in on Gini’s original comments. Good post John and good sharing from all, thank you.
Hi Jacob, actually I don’t like expat who go on about poor human rights records of the country they live in. If they don’t like there, nobody is forcing you to stay there. Do something about it or shut up.
This is case is different, its a Multinational based in the good old US of A that is actually attacking the blogger. Ironic right?
A US company trying to curb freedom of speech. Speaking of China wonder how the Groupon ad went down with their reference to Tibet?
Thanks for stopping by Jacob, used your example in today’s post! Thanks for showing us the way in China.
Man John! This is FASCINATING! When I wrote the Egypt blog post, I did so with Egyptians in mind. I hadn’t even considered expats living there. You really have me thinking. So… as an expat living in another country, are we allowed the same freedom of speech and rights we are in America? I don’t even know how to answer your question. It seems like blogging and freedom of speech should be allowed, but if the government is shutting you down, I guess it doesn’t matter, does it?
I have to think on this. Maybe even blog about it. We could do a co-written post. It’s really fascinating.
Hmm — American rights don’t apply in another country. Funny though, how American rights apply to visiting foreigners – - Yes?
You can even get medical benefits just by illegally entering the US — you can’t get those benefits anywhere else in the world other than the US!
Actually in France you can get full medical coverage as long as you have been in the country for more than 3 months. Not a bad deal eh?
Actually, that is pretty cool John — but I’m sure you must enter legally to get those benefits, yes??
Actually no, illegal aliens can get the coverage but need to be registered as illegal with the state. You can then also get other benefits (refugee, unemployment, etc..). Although France is generous the UK is more so. This created huge camps of people in the north of France waiting to cross to the UK.
So basically you have countries where you have no rights and some where you have quite a few and get cash.
That’s interesting — I know what are topic of conversation will be on our next call : )
Friday pm my friend is a good time-
So is it legal to disobey the law of the land when the law goes against human rights (freedom of speech, access to information)?
Can you write about freedom in China and not expect to be arrested?
In this case though its not the government shutting him down but a corporation.
Gini, yes its a very interesting topic. Thank you for starting the idea with your post. A co-written post? Love it. Emailing you.
Man John! This is FASCINATING! When I wrote the Egypt blog post, I did so with Egyptians in mind. I hadn’t even considered expats living there. You really have me thinking. So… as an expat living in another country, are we allowed the same freedom of speech and rights we are in America? I don’t even know how to answer your question. It seems like blogging and freedom of speech should be allowed, but if the government is shutting you down, I guess it doesn’t matter, does it?
I have to think on this. Maybe even blog about it. We could do a co-written post. It’s really fascinating.
Hmm — American rights don’t apply in another country. Funny though, how American rights apply to visiting foreigners – - Yes?
You can even get medical benefits just by illegally entering the US — you can’t get those benefits anywhere else in the world other than the US!
Actually in France you can get full medical coverage as long as you have been in the country for more than 3 months. Not a bad deal eh?
Actually, that is pretty cool John — but I’m sure you must enter legally to get those benefits, yes??
Actually no, illegal aliens can get the coverage but need to be registered as illegal with the state. You can then also get other benefits (refugee, unemployment, etc..). Although France is generous the UK is more so. This created huge camps of people in the north of France waiting to cross to the UK.
So basically you have countries where you have no rights and some where you have quite a few and get cash.
That’s interesting — I know what are topic of conversation will be on our next call : )
Friday pm my friend is a good time-
So is it legal to disobey the law of the land when the law goes against human rights (freedom of speech, access to information)?
Can you write about freedom in China and not expect to be arrested?
In this case though its not the government shutting him down but a corporation.
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