Bolivia's Decision to Monitor Social Media By: Nina Bharadwaj

A Bolivian oficial has a warning for people that criticize President Evo Morales on the internet: He is looking at what people say, and he is writing down their names.
Vice President Alvaro Linera stated "I am always going online, and I am writing down the first and last names of people who insult him on Facebook and Twitter", in reports in the Bolivian media.
These comments have been criticized from free speech supporters, but other lawmakers from Morales' Movement for Socialism party say that they want a law made to regulate social media.
A congressman named Franklin Garvizu said that it is ok to give constructive criticism, but that disrespectful and malicious comments are not ok.
Garvizu said "We are very worried because this is a case of systematically using communications mechanisms to plant hatred against the government, to harm the image of our president.
Bolivian opposition leaders disagree. They say that the government is trying to stop social networking, altogether.
Samuel Doris, part of the opposition National Unity Party basically says that no one can expect everyone to be complimented on social networks. The opposing people also get insults from officials, but they wouldn't try to stop social media. In fact, the opposing people want the vice president to get an account. They think that it will help him interact with young people.
Word about the government regulating social media has sparked major criticism in La Paz. They say that it goes against all human rights. Others say that insulting isn't good in any media, but that all people should respect each other.
Of about 10 million people, in Bolivia, about 8.7 of them don't have access to social media. There are about 1.7 million users, so many see it as a way for the government to join social media, rather than see it as a threat.
Analysis: The author of this article, Gloria Carrasco, wrote this just to inform us about what is going on in La Paz, regarding social media. She wasn't biased at all. She stated both sides of the situation, and she gave quotes from people of each side.
I don't think that social media should have to be regulated in Bolivia. It goes against our rights as humans. I mean people should be able to say whatever they feel like. On Facebook, I read posts about people insulting our government, but you don't see the government stopping social media. The government in Bolivia should just deal with being criticized. I mean they can't expect to be praised about every single thing that they do. Plus, I'm sure the government insults us humans as much as we insult them, so if people in Bolivia are going to get in trouble for talking about the government than the government should get in trouble for insulting the people. All I'm saying is that the government needs to deal with being criticized, and if they can't take criticism then maybe they aren't right for the job.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/25/world/americas/bolivia-social-media/index.html?hpt=ila_c2