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

As the web has become an integral part of everyday life, with many using it as their primary source of news, 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.

The way that web content is consumed is also different to the previous means of publishing.
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.
This highlights the connection between privacy and online censorship, as it is not possible to implement such censorship
unless there is a device that attempts to know what it is that 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 effectively isolates Chinese internet users from global discourse, limiting exposure to foreign ideas and
  information that contradict the state narrative.
  Further to the direct censorship, the surveillance capabilities lead to self-censorship too where users are afraid
  to search for dissenting views and ideas.
* In recent years, **Russia** has enacted stringent media laws aimed at controlling the flow of information and
  suppressing dissent.
  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 face harassment or legal repercussions for their work.
* **Turkey** has increasingly employed censorship to control media narratives and suppress dissent, particularly
  following the 2016 coup attempt.
  The government 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."
* **Iran** employs extensive censorship to control the narrative and suppress dissenting voices, 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.
  Individuals who share dissenting views online can face imprisonment or other severe penalties.
  The pervasive censorship in Iran stifles free expression and limits the public's ability to engage with diverse
  perspectives, fostering an environment of fear and repression.

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 our main weapon against online censorship: **Collateral Freedom**.