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3.8 KiB
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55 lines
No EOL
3.8 KiB
Text
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title: The World Wide Web
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sidebar_position: 20
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---
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As the web has become an integral part of everyday life, with many using it as their primary source of news, governments
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are employing various techniques to control online content just as they have with literature, newspapers, radio, and
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television in the past.
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Publishing content online has a far lower barrier to entry than publishing a book or a newspaper, or operating a radio
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station.
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This democratization of content creation has led to an explosion of diverse voices and perspectives, but has also
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become a target for censorship as governments wish to suppress content they find undesirable.
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The way that web content is consumed is also different to the previous means of publishing.
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To read an article online, there is a one-to-one exchange between the reader's device and the publisher's server.
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This exchange needs to be carried over one or more Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks.
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This highlights the connection between privacy and online censorship, as it is not possible to implement such censorship
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unless there is a device that attempts to know what it is that the reader has requested in order to decide whether to
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allow access.
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Below are some notable examples of contemporary censorship efforts:
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* The Great Firewall of **China** (GFW) is a sophisticated system of censorship and surveillance implemented by the
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Chinese government.
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The GFW effectively isolates Chinese internet users from global discourse, limiting exposure to foreign ideas and
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information that contradict the state narrative.
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Further to the direct censorship, the surveillance capabilities lead to self-censorship too where users are afraid
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to search for dissenting views and ideas.
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* In recent years, **Russia** has enacted stringent media laws aimed at controlling the flow of information and
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suppressing dissent.
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The government has the authority to block websites and remove content deemed "extremist" or harmful to state
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interests.
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These measures have led to a significant decline in independent journalism and a stifling of free expression, as many
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journalists face harassment or legal repercussions for their work.
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* **Turkey** has increasingly employed censorship to control media narratives and suppress dissent, particularly
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following the 2016 coup attempt.
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The government frequently blocks access to social media platforms during times of unrest or political sensitivity.
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Authorities can order the removal of content that is critical of the government or its policies.
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Journalists and citizens face prosecution for "insulting" the president or spreading "terrorist propaganda."
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* **Iran** employs extensive censorship to control the narrative and suppress dissenting voices, particularly regarding
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political and social issues.
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The government blocks access to numerous websites, including social media platforms and news outlets that do not align
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with state ideology.
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Online activities are closely monitored, with authorities tracking users' communications and internet usage.
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Individuals who share dissenting views online can face imprisonment or other severe penalties.
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The pervasive censorship in Iran stifles free expression and limits the public's ability to engage with diverse
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perspectives, fostering an environment of fear and repression.
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All of these countries, however, rely on web access to support economic activity.
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Being able to send and receive emails is a critical capability to engage with modern business, to send a purchase order,
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to receive an invoice, or to request a price list.
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eCommerce, electronic funds transfer, electronic data interchange for billing and shipping, and automated stock exchange
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platforms all rely on an internet connection.
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It is this fact that supports our main weapon against online censorship: **Collateral Freedom**. |