Buzz
During a session at the National People's Congress in Beijing, journalists and delegates make use of the Internet at the Great Hall of the People.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty ImagesThe Internet was once referred to as the "information superhighway," designed to offer individuals rapid access to an almost infinite amount of data. For some, that's exactly the experience they have online, while for others, it's more like a highway with significant blockages in the form of Internet censorship.
Censorship motivations can vary from the well-meaning wish to shield children from inappropriate content to authoritarian efforts to control a country's flow of information. Regardless of the censor’s intent, the result is the same: restricted access to Web pages deemed undesirable.
Internet censorship isn't solely a tool for governments or parents. Several software products on the market are designed to restrict or block access to certain websites. These are commonly known as Web filters, but those opposing censorship refer to them as Censorware.
Although there are vocal supporters and critics of Internet censorship, it's not always simple to categorize everyone into a specific group. Different individuals use varying methods to achieve their goals. Some censorship opponents take legal action against government policies, while others work as information freedom activists, providing secretive methods for accessing restricted data.
This article will explore the various levels of Internet censorship, ranging from simple Web filters to national censorship policies. Additionally, we'll examine how some individuals are combating censorship.
We will begin by examining Internet censorship on a national scale.
In 2007, AT&T faced backlash when music fans realized the company had censored political statements during a Webcast by Pearl Jam. The band performed Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" with additional lyrics criticizing U.S. President George W. Bush, which AT&T removed before broadcasting. After an outcry, AT&T admitted it was not an isolated incident, though spokesperson Tiffany Nels insisted the intention was never to censor political commentary in Webcasts [source: MTV].
Internet Censorship at Home
Web filtering software like Net Nanny utilizes blacklists to restrict access to websites containing adult content.
Photo courtesy Amazon.comIt's undeniable that the Internet hosts numerous materials that most parents wouldn't want their children exposed to. From pornography and hate speech to gambling sites and chat rooms, many parents worry their kids may encounter harmful or inappropriate content. While some censorship critics argue that parental oversight is the best solution, many parents find it challenging -- if not impossible -- to constantly monitor their child's Internet usage.
To address this concern, many parents rely on software and hardware solutions. Programs like Net Nanny or CYBERsitter are popular choices, as they block access to undesirable websites. These tools offer various settings, enabling parents to control which sites their children can visit. For example, CYBERsitter provides 35 filter categories, including adult content and social networking sites [source: CYBERsitter].
The majority of Web filters employ two primary techniques to block content: Blacklists and keyword blocking. A blacklist is a compilation of websites flagged as inappropriate by the creators of the filter. Blacklists evolve over time, and most companies offer regular updates. If a user attempts to access a site on the blacklist, the request is blocked. With keyword blocking, the software scans a webpage to check for specific keywords. If the page contains problematic terms, access is denied.
Another method for parents is to install a firewall. A firewall acts as a shield, preventing unwanted or harmful content from reaching your computer. Firewalls can either be software or hardware-based. They create a barrier between your network and the Internet, allowing only safe data to pass through. While firewalls require more involvement from the network administrator (in this case, a parent) than web filters, tech-savvy parents may find them easy to manage. Others prefer using Web filters, which handle most of the work automatically.
Have you ever tried to access a website at your job, only to be met with a discouraging message? Many companies impose restrictions on which sites employees can visit. Explore the issue of Internet censorship from a corporate perspective on the next page.
Critics of Web filtering software raise significant concerns. Many filtering programs encrypt their blacklists, arguing it helps prevent misuse. However, critics argue that the encrypted list may inadvertently block harmless pages, including those that criticize the filter's creators. Even if the developers don't intentionally block these sites, it's easy for filters to incorrectly restrict access. This happens because keyword-based programs lack the ability to understand context. For instance, early Web filters would mistakenly block chicken breast recipes, unable to differentiate between a cooking site and adult content, resulting in indiscriminate blocking of all sites.
Big Businesses and Internet Censorship
Vinton Cerf, vice president of engineering at Google, represents his company during a debate on net neutrality at the Center for American Progress.
Mark Wilson/Companies that limit employee Internet access typically have several reasons for doing so. One of the main motivations is to boost productivity. While employees may need the Internet for work-related tasks, they can also become distracted by it. To prevent time-wasting activities online, many companies enforce strict Internet usage policies.
Another concern for corporations is harassment. Without proper controls, an employee could access inappropriate content, like pornography, on the Web. If this material is seen by other workers, it may create a hostile work environment. To prevent potential lawsuits, some companies turn to Internet censorship as a solution.
While many companies use Web filtering software similar to home-based products, others rely on firewalls. A firewall enables companies to selectively block specific Web pages or even entire domains, reducing the likelihood of mistakenly blocking sites employees may need for legitimate work tasks.
In many workplaces, when an employee tries to access a blocked website, a message appears stating that the network administrator has identified the site as inappropriate. The message typically offers the option to appeal to the administrator if the employee believes the site has been wrongly blocked. The administrator can update the firewall settings to adjust the restricted sites list.
What about corporations that provide Internet access, like telecom and cable companies? They play a key role in controlling the content customers can access. In the United States, there's an ongoing debate over the concept of net neutrality. In simple terms, net neutrality ensures a level playing field where Internet service providers (ISPs) allow access to all content without prioritizing certain companies or websites. Telecom and cable companies were successful in getting the Supreme Court to dismiss net neutrality [source: ACLU].
Without net neutrality, ISPs can charge content providers for bandwidth usage. Those who pay the fee get more bandwidth, meaning their websites load faster than competitors who don't pay. For instance, if Yahoo pays the fee and Google doesn't, users of the ISP would experience faster loading times for Yahoo's search engine compared to Google's. Advocates for net neutrality argue that this type of preferential treatment amounts to censorship.
Continue reading to discover how some nations attempt to control the type of content their citizens can access.
Most search engines implement self-censorship of their search engine results pages (SERPs) to ensure relevant search results for users. This step is crucial because certain webmasters try to manipulate search engines into boosting the rank of their web pages. Without filtering these pages, every SERP would be filled with irrelevant results.
Recently, opponents of censorship have criticized companies like Yahoo and Google for assisting authoritarian regimes in maintaining control over the Internet. These companies face a delicate balance — though based in the United States, they are still required to comply with local regulations when operating in other countries.
International Internet Censorship
Numerous countries impose some level of restriction on Internet content. Even in the United States, laws regulate the kind of information you can access in schools or public libraries. Some nations take these restrictions even further — and a few even prohibit Internet access entirely.
The OpenNet Initiative (ONI), an organization dedicated to raising awareness about global web filtering and surveillance policies, classifies Web filtering into four categories:
- Political: Content expressing views opposing the policies of a particular country. This category also includes material related to human rights, religious movements, and other social issues.
- Social: Web pages dealing with topics such as sexuality, gambling, drugs, and other subjects that might be considered offensive by some nations.
- Conflict/Security: Content about wars, protests, political dissent, and other types of conflict.
- Internet tools: Websites offering services like e-mail, instant messaging, translation tools, and ways to bypass censorship.
Countries like the United States are relatively liberal in their policies, restricting only a limited number of Web pages. However, other countries are far more stringent. According to Reporters Without Borders, an organization advocating for freedom of expression and the protection of journalists, the following nations have the most stringent censorship laws:
- Belarus
- China
- Cuba
- Egypt
- Iran
- Myanmar
- North Korea
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
Certain nations take censorship even further. The government of Myanmar is reportedly monitoring Internet cafés, with computers that automatically capture screenshots every few minutes. China has implemented an advanced filtering system, known worldwide as the Great Firewall of China, which can analyze new Web pages and block access in real time. It can also scan blogs for subversive content and restrict users from accessing them. In Cuba, private Internet access is completely banned — to get online, people must use public access points.
Numerous organizations are working to end Internet censorship. Learn more about them on the following page.
Sometimes, the battle shifts from the digital world to reality. In 2006, Peter Yuan Li, an anti-censorship activist and practitioner of Falun Gong — a spiritual practice akin to Buddhism — was attacked in his Atlanta home. Li ran websites that criticized China's Communist Party. His assailants tied him up and demanded the location of his files. They beat him brutally and stole two laptops, leaving other valuables untouched. Li suspected the Chinese government orchestrated the attack to silence him [source: Forbes].
Opponents of Internet Censorship
In addition to the many individuals who fight censorship through blogs every day, various organizations work to raise awareness about Internet censorship. Some of these are formal groups with established memberships, while others take a more informal approach, even advocating for guerrilla tactics to bypass harsh policies.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) staunchly opposes Internet censorship. The ACLU has filed numerous lawsuits aimed at overturning censorship laws. In 2007, the organization succeeded in convincing a federal court that the Children's Online Protection Act (COPA) was unconstitutional. COPA was a law prohibiting the presentation of material online considered harmful to minors, even if it was valuable to adults [source: ACLU].
The OpenNet Initiative is a collective focused on informing the public about how countries regulate or restrict access to information. This initiative involves departments from the University of Toronto, Harvard Law School, Oxford University, and the University of Cambridge. On ONI's website, you can find an interactive map that displays which countries are censoring the Internet.
Reporters Without Borders is also deeply concerned about Internet censorship, though its mission extends far beyond online issues. The organization compiles a list of 'Internet enemies,' which identifies countries that enforce the most stringent Internet regulations and restrictions [source: Reporters Without Borders].
The Censorware Project has been operational since 1997, dedicated to raising awareness about Web filtering software and practices. On its website, you'll find in-depth investigative reports on major Web filter programs currently available, as well as essays and news about censorship. Another similar platform is Peacefire.org, which initially focused on safeguarding free speech online for younger users.
Other organizations provide guidance on how to bypass or disable censorware. Some recommend using proxy sites. A proxy site is a Web page that allows users to browse the internet while masking their personal Internet protocol (IP) address. By visiting the proxy site, you can enter the URL of a restricted site, and the proxy site fetches the information and shows it to you. Those monitoring your activity can only see that you visited the proxy site, not the restricted sites themselves.
It may take decades before the Internet fully realizes its potential as a channel for free ideas. Ironically, the key to achieving this won't come from technological advances, but from changes in the policies of governments and corporations.
In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). This law imposes restrictions on Internet access in schools and public libraries that receive funding from the E-rate program, which makes technology more affordable for educational institutions. Critics argue that CIPA violates the First Amendment. In 2003, the Supreme Court upheld the law in a 5 to 4 ruling [source: Supreme Court].
