Social and Ethical Implications of Internet Censorship

More than one-fourth of the planet's populace utilizes the Internet today, despite the fact that entrance to it is exceptionally uneven all through the world. The web has changed the manner by which individuals acquire news, direct business, speak with each other, mingle, and interface with open authorities (Kelly, Cook & Truong). However, most of the people look at the internet as two sided sword. On one hand, it provides easy flow and availability of valuable information, connecting people. On the other hand, it has become a place where one can easily access material which is dangerous and harmful for the society.

Hamade, S. N found that ‘Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons—individuals, groups or government officials—find objectionable or dangerous. Censors try to use the power of the state to impose their view of what is truthful and appropriate, or offensive and objectionable, on everyone else. Censorship occurs when expressive materials, like books, magazines, films and videos, or works of art, and lately internet websites are removed or kept from public access. Censorship also occurs when materials are restricted to particular audiences, based on their age or other characteristics’. There been always a battle to take control of Internet. However, there will be struggle regarding what controls ought to be set up, and who ought to authorize them when there is interaction crossing social and political limits (Murdoch, S. J, and H. Roberts).

This document will discuss the social and ethical implications of internet censorship. The arguments raised here strongly opposes the internet censorship with their own reasons. It begins with how government censors Internet access and contents. Second argument discusses how the governments uses its power over the technology organization in order to gain access over the citizen’s private information. Also, some countries like Russia have introduced laws which bans the use of VPNs and fine the organizations which allows use of VPNs Third argument talks about the negative effect of internet censorship on the international trade. There are many countries and many rules, so it’s hard international organizations to carry on business. The third part offers refutation for the above raised argument against the internet censorship. The essay concludes that the internet censorship should not solely given to the government only. The common people should also be involved in the process of deciding the censorship laws and regulations.

Discussion

One of the implication of internet censorship is it gives too much power and control over information. Governments often have the choice in degree of censorship, most of them opt between the position of depth i.e. degree of intervention and scope or range of topics. For example, Denmark which supports the unrestricted flow of the information and on other hand North Korea prohibiting all access to the internet (Warf, Barney). Many authoritarian countries have taken different measures to filter or otherwise obstruct online free speech because of they are more concerned about the power of these new technologies to catalyze the changes in politics (Borrull, A. L. and Oppenheim, C). Moreover, over the previous decade in order to control the internet governments across the globes have developed various powerful instruments. These incorporates blocking the content that is critical of the regime, limiting the infrastructure and connectivity and arresting those who post the undesirable information. So we can say that there been always a battle to take control of Internet (Murdoch, S. J, and H. Roberts). ‘17 Governments approved or proposed laws restricting online media in the name of fighting “fake news” and online manipulation and 18 Countries increased surveillance, often eschewing in dependent oversight and weakening encryption to gain unfetter access to data’ (Freedom On The Net 2018, pp 03). Hence, the number of countries imposing strict censorship strategies is growing over the years and the year internet is growing less free.

Another disadvantage of Internet censorship is that the authorities demand control over the citizen’s private data. Internet is seen as an open space where everyone can express their views. In many ways internet erases boundaries. Enormous amount of data flows in and out of their country and governments are willing to take control over this data at their will. By stating the reasons such as protections of citizen from thefts or make data more accessible to national security agencies, some of these countries are forcing tech firms to use local servers to store citizen’s data (Müller, U). Countries like China, Pakistan, Russia and Vietnam has already implemented the requirement of localization of data. Though, data localization might sound the secure option to data storage but for a hacker it generally doesn’t matter the location of data storage servers which makes this method vulnerable to cyber-attacks. For example, in India during 2018 Aadhar systems data breach put 1.1 billion people’s data at the risk. Incidents like this demonstrates that we need strong protection framework beyond only localization of data (Freedom On The Net 2018). Over the past years countries like Russia have imposed restriction on virtual private networks (VPN’s) to prevent users from accessing banned websites from Outside County. They also introduced subsequent bill to fine the organizations which allows the user of VPNs. In light of fears about universal collection what's more, the inalienable uncertainty of individual information, numerous nations are ordering enactment that awards people the privilege to control how their information are gathered, handled, and shared by open and private entities. Governments are making misuse of their power for their own benefits. Therefore, as a citizen we should demand the government for more transparency in private data storage.

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We all are aware about the social injustice caused by the Internet censorship and considerably these issues are great cause of concern but the one area which was overlooked earlier and is now becoming critical is the effect of internet censorship on the international trade. Basically, national organizations can efficiently discriminate against international providers by censoring internet data. For example, Google being the organization that prides itself on being the source of information, they refused to abide to Chinese censorship policies. Hence, Google decided to withdraw operations from China. However, despite the fact that China demands Google must agree to Chinese censorship strategies by blocking access to certain frightful content, the Chinese search engine Baidu, frequently shows a similar content. In this manner, it appears the utilization of online oversight to remove remote challenge might be another factor in play (Leberknight, C S, Chiang, M, Poor H V, & Wong, F). We have so many countries and many laws and one Internet. And it is very difficult to business when you have to choose whose law to follow. Therefore, censorship strategies around the world making huge impact on the multinational businesses.

Refutation

It is often argued that governments around the globe are highly censoring the Internet access and content and it should not be happen. But, despite the usually prevalent principle of liberty of expression in democratic nations, it is commonly recognized that certain kinds of expression are not protected because they are considered to be of inadequate importance in relation to the damage they cause. However, this is a false argument as; international problems such as protection of children, terrorist activity, crime, racial hatred etc. are the issues at the stake. The global solution for such issues can be achieved by international treaties and co-operations. It is recognized that it is legitimate to censor where damage is caused to others by the speech, words or craft of a creator, every one of the issues referred to above are obviously creating mischief different gatherings in the society (CERF, V.). Thus, it is also important for the government to take bold steps towards the internet censorship in order to betterment of the society.

We have seen that how government forces the tech giants to gain the control over the personal user details for their own benefits. But rather than forcing the users to make such bold choices, governments and technology companies should introduce more transparency regarding how personal data should be used, enable data portability between the platforms and also give authority to users to delete the data that they want from the collection (Mishara, B. L., Weisstub, D.N). However, government, private organizations are hungry for the data. Either their purpose might be for development of artificial intelligence technology to the political purpose of the governments. In such cases the individuals have very small choices to refuse such requests.

Conclusion

In this article we have seen some of the social and ethical implications of the internet censorship. The use of censorship is necessary for the betterment of the society. But at the same time handing over all the control of the censorship to the government lead to violation of right to information. ‘As per Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.”

This standard applies to all countries and territories, irrespective of geographical location, ethnic or religious composition, or level of economic development’ (Kelly, S, Cook, S, Truong, M,). All things considered, we can be hopeful that with carefulness and proceeding with endeavors to look after straightforwardness, the Internet can stay a power for expanding opportunity as opposed to turn into an instrument for increasingly proficient suppression.