November 19. 2009

Recently, the U.S. Government announced it intends to compel bloggers to disclose payments, gifts or incentives they receive, for blog posts that contain product placements or undisclosed paid endorsements.

This is a good move, as some bloggers have gotten carried away, actively deceiving the public into thinking they are being honest and impartial, especially with their recommendations and compliments, when some of them are paid by individuals and corporations, to write exactly what they tell them to (via email). Some even take payment to defame and terrorize others online.

Considering certain parties in Hollywood essentially bribe some pop culture bloggers for favorable coverage, does that not defeat the purpose of having a blog, as it defies the candid, cutting edge and supposedly spontaneous nature of said internet publishing.

The political blogs often display the views of the writers, but some of them have written stories, because they were written checks. Audiences deserve to know the truth.

However, what happens when bloggers venture into felonious criminal territory, posting unlawfully obtained information, such as data lifted from top secret files, items from illegal wiretaps/bugs, hidden cameras, medical files or scoops that violate attorney client privilege.