---
title: The World Wide Web
sidebar_position: 20
---

The web has become an integral part of everyday life[^1].
As many use it as their primary source of news, many governments are employing various techniques to control online
content just as they have with literature, newspapers, radio, and television in the past.

Publishing content online has a far lower barrier to entry than publishing a book or a newspaper, or operating a radio
station.
This democratization of content creation has led to an explosion of diverse voices and perspectives, but has also
become a target for censorship as governments wish to suppress content they find undesirable.

Web content is also consumed differently to that published by traditional means.
To read an article online, there is a one-to-one exchange between the reader's device and the publisher's server.
This exchange needs to be carried over one or more Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks.
And so, privacy and online censorship become linked: it is impossible to implement this censorship
without a device that knows what the reader has requested in order to decide whether to
allow access.

Below are some notable examples of contemporary censorship efforts:

* The Great Firewall of **China** (GFW) is a sophisticated system of censorship and surveillance implemented by the
  Chinese government.
  The GFW isolates Chinese internet users from global discourse, limiting exposure to foreign ideas and
  information that contradict the state narrative.
  These pervasive surveillance capabilities have also lead to self-censorship, where users are afraid
  to search for dissenting views and ideas.[^2]
* In recent years, **Russia** has enacted stringent media laws aimed at controlling the flow of information.
  The government has the authority to block websites and remove content deemed "extremist" or harmful to state
  interests.
  These measures have led to a significant decline in independent journalism and a stifling of free expression, as many
  journalists have fled the country to avoid facing harassment or legal repercussions for their work.[^3]
* **Turkey** has increasingly employed censorship to control media narratives and suppress dissent,
   and frequently blocks access to social media platforms during times of unrest or political sensitivity.
  Authorities can order the removal of content that is critical of the government or its policies.
  Journalists and citizens face prosecution for "insulting" the president or spreading "terrorist propaganda".[^4]
* **Iran** employs extensive censorship, particularly regarding political and social issues.
  The government blocks access to numerous websites, including social media platforms and news outlets that do not align
  with state ideology.
  Online activities are closely monitored, with authorities tracking users' communications and internet usage, fostering
  an environment of fear and repression.
  Individuals who share dissenting views online can face imprisonment or other severe penalties.[^5]

All of these countries, however, rely on web access to support economic activity.
Being able to send and receive emails is a critical capability to engage with modern business, to send a purchase order,
to receive an invoice, or to request a price list.
eCommerce, electronic funds transfer, electronic data interchange for billing and shipping, and automated stock exchange
platforms all rely on an internet connection.
It is this fact that supports the main advantage against online censorship: **Collateral Freedom**.

[^1]: International Telecommunication Union World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database.
      "Individuals using the Internet". https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx.
      Accessed on 25th May 2025.

[^2]: Zhong, Z. J., Wang, T., & Huang, M. (2017). Does the Great Fire Wall cause self-censorship? The effects of
      perceived internet regulation and the justification of regulation.
      Internet Research, 27(4), 974-990. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/intr-07-2016-0204/full/html

[^3]: Yablokov, I., & Gatov, V. (2025). Broadcasting through the (New) Iron Curtain: Practices, Challenges, and Legacies
      of Russia's Independent Media in Exile. Journalism Studies, 1-18.
      https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/1461670X.2025.2462550

[^4]: Över, D., & Tuncer-Ebetürk, I. (2022). Insult, Charisma, and Legitimacy: Turkey's Transition to Personalist Rule.
      Social & Legal Studies, 31(5), 773-795. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09646639211073652

[^5]: Freedom House. "Freedom of the Net 2023: Iran". https://freedomhouse.org/country/iran/freedom-net/2023.
      Accessed on 25th May 2025.
