Media and Information Literacy: Legal, Ethical, and Societal Issues

Lesson Overview

• Discussion on legal, ethical, and societal issues related to media and information literacy.
• Topics include:
  • Digital citizenship
  • Intellectual property and plagiarism
  • Data privacy and cyber crimes
  • Cyber bullying
  • Fake information (fake news)
  • Computer addiction
  • Digital divide
  • Netiquette

Digital Citizenship

• Definition (UNESCO, 2016): Ability to find, access, use, and create information effectively.
• Involves engaging with other users and content in an ethical and responsible manner.
• Awareness of rights as users and responsible use of technology.

Intellectual Property

• Definition: Creations of the mind (inventions, literary and artistic works, names, symbols).
• Types of Intellectual Property:
  1. Copyright: Rights over literary and artistic works.
  2. Patent: Exclusive right for inventions.
  3. Trademark: Distinct sign identifying goods/services.
  4. Industrial Design: Protects aesthetic features of products.
  5. Geographical Indications: Signifies products with specific qualities from certain locations.

Copyright

• Gives creators the right to publish and sell their work.
• Important for protecting the material expression of works.
• Infringement Examples:
  • League of Legends vs. Mobile Legends
  • Freddie Mercury and David Bowie vs. Vanilla Ice
  • Huawei vs. Willing Willie

Plagiarism

• Using another's work without authorization or claiming it as one’s own.
• Common Acts of Plagiarism:
  • Copying images/content without credit.
  • Using copyrighted music/footage in videos.
  • Claiming others' compositions as original work.

Fair Use

• Legal principle allowing use of copyrighted works without a license for:
  • Commentary and criticism
  • Reporting
  • Research and teaching

Data Privacy

• Importance of protecting personal information online.
• Common Issues:
  • Hacking: Unauthorized access to devices.
  • Phishing: Social engineering to steal user data.
  • Identity Theft: Using another person's information illegally.

Data Privacy Protection

• Governed by the Data Privacy Act of 2012 in the Philippines.

Cyber Crimes

• Definition: Criminal activity involving computers/networks.
• Types of Cyber Crimes:
  • Piracy and illegal downloads
  • Cyber bullying
  • Online harassment
  • Online drug trafficking

Cyber Bullying

• Harassment using digital means (texts, social media).
• Prevalent among school-aged children.

Fake Information (Fake News)

• Deliberately misleading stories to deceive readers.
• Common Types:
  • Clickbait
  • Propaganda
  • Misleading headlines
  • Manipulated content

Computer Addiction

• Excessive use of computers interfering with daily life.
• Potential triggers include:
  • Online gaming
  • Social media
  • Video streaming

Digital Divide

• Inequality in access and usage of digital technology.
• Factors include location, income, and age.
• Highlighted during the pandemic with educational access issues.

Netiquette

• Set of rules for proper online behavior.
• 10 Core Rules:
  1. Remember the human.
  2. Adhere to real-life standards of behavior.
  3. Know your cyber environment.
  4. Respect others' time and bandwidth.
  5. Present yourself well.
  6. Share expert knowledge responsibly.
  7. Control flame wars.
  8. Avoid promoting divisiveness.
  9. Respect privacy.
  10. Be forgiving of mistakes.

Conclusion

• Responsible digital citizenship requires awareness and adherence to these issues and principles.