Internet Censorship and Technology

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Since its availability to consumers in the 90’s the internet has forever changed the way one can communicate with others. With improvements in technology and an increase of emerging countries the accessibility of the internet will only increase with time. Such a possibility is fraught with problems, problems that were later brought to light by the September 11 attacks. With widespread internet usage the means to do harm increases and for some that vulnerability warrants the censoring of internet material that will aid criminals/terrorists. Internet censorship is not a viable option for any government to partake in. In censoring the internet the government infringes on their citizen’s basic human rights, it would become a costly endeavour, and it’s a lost cause. To begin with, by censoring the internet a country violates its citizen’s rights to freedom of speech and other basic human rights. Censorship provides control of human expression and it would make sense that the governments that fear revolts are those that are in favour it. China whose, “Government official are worried that, as the number of Chinese homes with telephone lines grows from the present level of less than four percent, the State will become totally unable to monitor Internet aces at residencies” (CIA 1) is a perfect example of how censorship is only a ploy to control the flow of ideas. Unfortunately for the Chinese officials internet usage did explode and with it came serious loss of credibility and control over the populace. As the government lost control it only strengthened its position towards censorship. The Human Rights Watch states that China Achieves this by, “requiring internet search firms and state media to censor issues deemed officially “sensitive... ... middle of paper ... ...s of the world to overthrow oppressive regimes. While there are risks to not censoring the internet they will always exist and the benefits humanity can reap from an uncensored internet far outweigh the risks. Works Cited Anna Sthesia, . N.p.. Web. 30 March 2014. . "The Chinese Media: More Autonomous and Diverse--Within Limits." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 19 June 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. Pritchard, Justin. "Uneven Post-9/11 Data-Cloaking Persists." Newsday. 22 Aug. 2011: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. Roleff, Tamara L. "Current Issues: Civil Liberties." Current Issues: Civil Liberties. 2009: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. Tor, . "Tor Project: Overview." . N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr 2014. .

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