flout#2
ベトナム政府が実施しているIT上の監視活動に関する記事です。記事によるとFacebookなどのSNSサイトは，"online army"と呼ばれるものにより監視され，反政府的な活動を行っている人々に対して，アカウントを停止させるという処置をとっているようです。ベトナム政府も"online army"の存在を認めており，公然と情報統制を行っております。記事の中で気になった単語は"flout"です。『Wisdom英和辞典第三版（三省堂）』によると「（法律など）を無視する，（権威・習慣などに）従わない」などという意味がありました。ODでは"Openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention)"と定義されております。"defy"との違いが気になり調べてみると"Openly resist or refuse to obey"とあります。"flout"は，制度を支持しないというニュアンスに対して"defy"は，制度によって行為を強制されたが，それに従わないという意味合いだと思いました。(Ume)
#BBCtrending: Vietnam's 'online army'
When David Nguyen - a human rights lawyer - tried to log in to the site, he found his account had been blocked. He was faced with a message from Facebook which said he was suspected of posting fraudulent personal information. He wasn't the only one. At least 100 users - mostly pro-democracy and human rights campaigners - have faced similar treatment, according to Viet Tan, a political group who oppose the communist government.
Although the blocks have been implemented by Facebook, it isn't the site itself that's to blame. Nguyen says he, and many like him, have been targeted by a rival team of site members - or "opinion shapers" - organised and paid by the government.
If that's the case, then how does their strategy work? When faced with multiple reports that someone is flouting the site rules, Facebook has little option but to suspend and investigate the account in question, and only reactivate it if the member can prove they are who they say they are. So government sponsored users are exploiting the rule, and systematically reporting the accounts of anyone who poses a challenge to the regime. Duy Hoang, a spokesperson for Viet Tan says this "online army" has been in operation for around two years, and earlier this year the government acknowledged its existence.
