Overview of Internet Censorship
Are we truly free?“ I’ve always wondered. Even if you live in a Western country, you will surely discover that Internet Censorship exists where some websites are blocked and certain downloads are forbidden as well as punished for. There is no doubt that if you send a message containing special keywords, your Facebook account will be banned, and if you type in Google, for example, „How do I commit suicide,“ you will find Google attempting to prevent you from doing so and telling you that instead of committing suicide, call this number and be positive… in the definition of freedom, you are not free in anything you do on the Internet.
Let’s take per example the internet: a massive network that connects billions of people worldwide, has changed the way people communicate, get information, and interact with the rest of the world. This has opened up previously unthinkable possibilities for exchange of knowledge, economic growth, and cultural interchange. This digital revolution, nevertheless, has created one of the most heated debates in the digital age called internet censorship.
Throughout history, advances in technology have frequently resulted in unexpected censorship-related side effects. While technology has played a major role in the spread of knowledge and information, it has also accelerated the practice of censorship. The traditional methods of maintaining control and enforcing censorship policies in the digital age are being tested by the rapid growth of technology, as well as the increasing number of various devices and networks.
Multiple Reasons for Internet Censorship
- Questions with a single answer: Nearly no one of us lives without access to the Internet. It has become a necessary part of daily life but although the internet has given power to people across the world, it has turned into a battlefield in which governments, businesses, and private companies fight for control over the movement of information.
- In the modern era of digital connection, one region’s practices and regulations can reflect all over the world, impacting how information is shared, consumed, and understood.
- Usability and censorship enforcement are prioritized by two fundamental ideas that guide internet censorship policies:
- Enhancing usability is the focus of the first principle, which limits performance degradation. In this environment, censorship regulations seek to limit information that might threaten the status while reducing any appreciable overhead or performance impairment. Striking a balance between preserving a seamless online experience and dealing with content deemed disruptive is the objective.
- Enforcing Censors: The second principle focuses on making sure that the censoring procedure is accurate to a certain extent, particularly with regard to unpleasant content. This idea emphasizes the significance of accurately recognizing and limiting content that violates accepted norms in order to sustain the desired standards of online content control.
Forms of Internet Censorship
For more than two decades, governments around the world have used a variety of technical, legal, and extralegal tactics to restrict online Material. However, the dynamics of internet censorship have shifted dramatically in recent years, owing to a convergence of technology developments, changes in user behavior, and commercial factors. This suppression can take various forms, each tailored to achieve specific objectives:
- Content Filtering: Content filtering is a widespread form of internet censorship which includes prohibiting or limiting access to specified websites, webpages, or online services. The technique is frequently used to prevent individuals from accessing content which is considered unacceptable, such as political dissent, pornography, or information that contradicts the ruling regime’s narrative.
- Keyword Filtering: Some countries use keyword filtering to look for specific words or phrases in internet traffic. If an individual tries to view content that contains certain terms, their access is denied or they are routed to a warning page. Keyword filtering is frequently used to silence political opponents and restrict access to information deemed sensitive or subversive.
- DNS (Domain Name System) Manipulation: involves changing the DNS resolution process in order to prevent access to specified websites. When a user enters the URL of a website into their browser, the modified DNS resolves it to a wrong IP address, essentially making the website inaccessible.
- Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): DPI is an advanced approach for inspecting the content of data packets as they transit across the internet. DPI is used by governments and internet service providers (ISPs) to monitor internet traffic and selectively ban or throttle it based on its content. Granular control over internet usage is possible with this technology, allowing for banning of individual applications, protocols, or content kinds.
- Legal structures and rules are yet another tool for implementing internet control. Governments can pass legislation requiring online platforms to remove or prohibit specific categories of content, such as hate speech, extremist propaganda, or intellectual property. Internet businesses who fail to comply may face harsh penalties.
How Can a Country Censor the Internet?
Imagine you want to track someone in real life; how much effort would it take to track his slightest move? How much will this cost you, and how simple will the process be? precisely the same applies for Internet censorship implementation. It requires constant surveillance on the part of those in charge of keeping an eye on networks and websites. This ongoing procedure involves locating, eliminating, or flagging questionable posts or content. Additionally, it calls for the creation and maintenance of an infrastructure that makes it possible to monitor and filter content throughout the internet.
Even while technology has advanced significantly, as shown by the world’s largest IT companies, the complete automation of content flagging and screening is still an unattainable goal. Even the biggest IT companies in the world have limitations, which serve as a reminder that fully automated systems are still a work in progress and not yet a reality.
but Why would a Country Use Censorship ?
Electronic censorship is one of the methods adopted by many countries for moral, political, humanitarian, economic, and many other reasons. For example, here in Germany, downloading films is considered an electronic crime that will lead you to pay a financial fine that falls under the ownership rights of the film but in return per example in African countries, you can download the same movie from the same site and also redistribute and publish it, and you will not receive any fine, simply because African countries do not find economic profit in the movie and do not have deals with production companies. Also, installing means of control and protection requires large investments and is not an easy process as I mentioned before.
In addition, The use of censorship by political parties often serves as a means to maintain their hold on power or to promote a specific narrative. Within this broad category, various sub-reasons may emerge, but this overarching objective underscores much of the censorship witnessed. Conversely, there are instances where governments perceive certain information as potentially harmful for public knowledge, perhaps due to its classified nature. In such cases, censorship may be viewed as a compromise, seen as the lesser of two evils, as a measure to safeguard what they consider to be the greater good or national interest.
You can check here to find out which country has the most censorship in the world
Electronic Censorship in the West and the East
Before looking into electronic censorship in the West and the East, it should be noted that when I refer to the West, I mean the Western countries or the Western camp led by the United States of America and the European countries, whereas the Eastern camp is led by China and Russia, as well as North Korea, Iran, and the rest of the countries. At first appear, these terms may suggest that we are in the middle of a war. Indeed you’re correct. Electronic warfare is currently regarded as the most powerful form of warfare that one government may employ against another. As a result, it may choke traffic, restrict imports and exports, and ultimately ruin the country’s economy. There is now no country that is not based on economics transactions except North Korea.
Internet Censorship in the East
Eastern hemisphere internet censorship is a challenging patterns of rules, practices, and ideologies that have emerged over the last two decades. This region includes a diverse range of governmental systems, cultural traditions, and historical backgrounds, all of which contribute to the specific landscape of online censorship. To fully comprehend the dynamics at work, it is necessary to investigate the historical roots, enforcement tactics, case studies, and socio-political elements that underpin internet censorship in the East.
Eastern nations use a broad spectrum of techniques and technologies for internet censorship to control online content. A popular approach is content filtering, which involves selectively limiting or restricting websites and internet services. Authorities can target content deemed unpleasant or politically sensitive by using keyword filtering, which searches internet traffic for particular words or phrases. Another tactic used to restrict access is DNS manipulation, in which the Domain Name System is altered with to reroute users away from particular websites. Furthermore, governments can monitor and selectively block internet traffic based on its content by using cutting-edge methods like deep packet inspection (DPI). ISPs that are under the jurisdiction of the state frequently play a key role in implementing these censorship policies.
North Korea and China in Internet Censorship
North Korea and China take the top two spots. These nations have a strict control on their internet and heavily filter it. Users in these countries are subject to a number of severe restrictions, such as being unable to access adult content, torrents, or VPN services. Furthermore, the governments of these nations strictly censor and exert influence over all political media distributed within their borders. Both countries impose stringent regulations on foreign messaging services, forcing citizens to use indigenous alternatives like WeChat in China. It’s important to note that WeChat lacks end-to-end encryption and has backdoors that may allow message access by outside parties.
However, after researching the two nations, I believe that China may have more freedom than North Korea does. In North Korea, for example, it can be extremely difficult to even get access to the Internet, and even if you do, the sites you can access will be restricted by government decree, so you won’t be able to access all the news sites you want to.
Although theoretically forbidden in China, several VPNs do function there. The same is true for several of the aforementioned nations‘ pornographic websites. To allow access to those in countries with restrictions, many porn websites will set up „mirror“ sites; however, they are frequently removed once authorities learn about them.
Iran uses a mix of legislative and technical controls to stifle political opposition and block access to certain information. North Korea, which is well-known for its policy of isolationism, maintains rigorous control over its intranet and provides only restricted access to a carefully chosen selection of websites. These case studies present concrete examples of websites that have been blocked, content that has been limited, and incidents of online censorship, providing insight into the complex web of censorship rules and practices.
Internet Censorship in the West
There is no doubt that there is a fine line between freedom of expression and hate speech, but the problem is that they all fall under the concept of freedom. What you consider freedom in your country may be considered hate speech in other countries and its use maybe considered a crime punishable by law. Here we specifically mention the West and Western society, from which my personal view is they takes the concept of democracy towards one direction, which is Western democracy, and that anything contrary to this trend is hate speech and is not permitted.
The values of free speech and open discussion have long been highly regarded in the setting of Western nations. These ideas, which emphasize the necessity for people to be able to express themselves and engage in public debate without fear of censorship or punishment, are enshrined in constitutional rights and legal frameworks. However, as the internet has evolved into a dominating platform for communication and information sharing, it has also presented additional challenges and complexities associated with the transmission of material ranging from hate speech and extremist propaganda to misleading information and cyberbullying.
Internet Censorship in the West in Numbers
Currently, 18 countries have taken steps to either ban or shut down torrenting websites. Additionally, 25 European nations have implemented measures related to torrenting, although they have not yet resorted to blocking websites. Some of these countries include Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, among others. Rather than classifying them as having ’sites blocked,‘ these countries are categorized as ‚restricted‘ since they haven’t fully blocked torrenting sites.
While torrenting websites are often blocked in Spain, it’s important to note that the rules permit torrenting for personal use, allowing downloading for personal viewing but not for uploading or distribution.
Notably, no European countries currently block or ban social media, but four of them impose restrictions. These countries are Belarus, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine. Montenegro has improved its stance on social media censorship, thanks to the current government allowing greater freedom of personal expression.
Why didn’t I mention the United States? Simply put, as I said before, the trend of democracy is moving in one direction, which is Western democracy. Most of the large websites that we use daily are based in the United States and are subject to the western US democracy. Reddit, Facebook, and the rest
Nations with Stricter Internet Censorship in 2023
It is clear from examining the results of each nation between our 2021 and 2023 study that 27 countries have stepped up their censoring efforts. Five of these nations have added numerous additional censoring measures. With three big modifications to its censorship landscape, Myanmar stands out as the leader.
In a similar spirit, Sri Lanka has added three additional forms of control to its arsenal of censorship. Among these are the ban on torrents, limitations on particular VPN providers, and protracted social media blackouts brought on by widespread demonstrations.
Afghanistan has seen a rise in censorship in a distinct area, both in the political and social media arenas. After the Taliban took back power, a startling 231 media outlets were shut down, and mobile phones were searched for social media posts that were critical of the government.
Furthermore, the Indian government has issued directives for companies to gather and surrender VPN user data. Additionally, they have deployed a monitoring system known as CMS, which possesses the capability to intercept various online activities, including Voice over IP (VoIP) messages. These developments underscore the evolving landscape of censorship across the globe.
Autocratic vs Democratic Nations in Internet Censorship
The control and censorship of the internet is an ongoing debate in today’s globally interconnected society, involving both Eastern and Western nations. On the one hand, Western nations accuse their Eastern counterparts of practicing total digital dictatorship, claiming that these states impose rigorous controls and limits on Internet access, violating the freedoms of information and speech. Eastern countries dispute these assertions, claiming that the West is behind a vast propaganda effort to discredit their methods of internet administration. They contend that Western nations frequently resist the software, websites, and news items created in the East because they see it as a challenge to their own interests and narratives.
This ongoing discussion shows the complex connections between censorship, information management, and ideological conflict in the digital era. These tensions exist as the global digital landscape changes, influencing how countries interact and use the internet on a regional and international scale.
Why is the Internet Censorship Conflict Mainly Limited to China and the United States?
The United States and China stand out from the rest of the countries due to a unique characteristic: all of their leading social media companies are domestic in origin. When we exclude China and the United States from this comparison, we observe that, on average, a mere 7 percent of social media companies operating in various countries are domestically based.
However, it’s important to note a crucial difference between these two global giants. In the case of the United States, its social media companies wield dominance across numerous countries, extending their influence far beyond American borders. In contrast, Chinese social media firms primarily enjoy popularity and prominence within China, with their global presence being relatively limited. This distinction highlights the varying international reach and impact of social media companies originating from these two nations.
The conflict between China and the United States escalated significantly during the periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. China strongly criticized what it perceived as American hypocrisy, particularly concerning what it termed the ‚digital police.‘ This criticism was aimed at the United States, which China accused of exploiting the fight against the novel coronavirus as a pretext to bolster its internet censorship measures and ramp up data collection.
America believed that China’s use of artificial intelligence to stop the disease’s spread was a dictatorship which the US itself had started discussions with Google and Facebook, to see if it’s possible to track the whereabouts and movements of every smartphone user in the nation under the same pretext. Predicting potential new hotspots of transmission was the objective in an effort to slow the virus‘ spread.
This viewpoint makes it clear that there is a conflict between the two Sides, each of which is using different strategies to challenge the other’s dominance. The recent American-led investigation and actions against TikTok, an application owned by a Chinese corporation, serve as an example of this dynamic. China was accused of abusing the application for allegedly immoral objectives. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the larger backdrop of geopolitical competition and tensions in the digital world, where countries are fighting for influence and control over platforms and technologies.
Electronic warfare is tricky. It is more comparable to the Cold War. In addition to China and America, there is also America against Russia and Russia against Britain and Europe. This is especially relevant in the context of the recent Ukrainian-Russian war, when Russia carried out numerous campaigns in the nation’s center against America and Europe. Additionally, it is stated that the concept of occupation is not acceptebale in social media and also in the russian media. Instead, they should use language like defending the nation or resisting.
Internet Censorship Case Studies
The web is not simply a tool a tool of government control, but an arena of conflict. The internet is a theatre for conflicts and confrontations as well as a tool for political control. The internet provides a platform for human rights organizations and diverse ethnic or political movements that are opposed to governments in this complex environment (Warf and Grimes 1997; Kreimer 2001; Crampton 2003).
Censorship campaigns frequently encounter disagreement, occasionally leading to successful pushbacks by local cyberactivists. These activists use methods such as employing anonymous proxy servers that are situated in other nations and encrypt user data and hide identities. Civil society organizations utilize the internet to unite marginalized and hitherto invisible groups (such as the LGBTQ+ community), support women’s movements, magnify the voices of human rights activists, and give political minorities the opportunity to further their interests.
As a result of the influence of political systems, internet accessibility, societal considerations, and political dynamics, the worldwide landscape of internet censorship is quite different. Given the complicated nature of various censoring tactics, it emphasizes the necessity for a thorough analysis. The development of the digital world is inextricably entwined with internet censorship, which is influenced by a wide range of regional, national, and local political and cultural issues. In especially for nations looking to entice international investment, political control, cultural perceptions on dissent, and geopolitical factors all play a significant role in decisions about internet access regulation. Significant aspects also include the economic ramifications, such as how they will affect the information technology sector and other global services like tourism. The essay introduces a classification system that makes use of the framework developed by Reporters Without Borders to gauge the severity of internet censorship practices.
Conclusion
For me personally, as a summary, I think that the current war is a purely economic and political war, and that the Internet has moved from a means of transmitting information to a means of controlling people. In the principle of freedom, a person is not considered free if he is directed by a specific group to do something and the best evidence for that is the large companies that store information and what you search for.
It may direct you to targeted advertisements for the items you previously searched for or even use your microphone to gather your personal data, but what is the fix? Due to the Internet’s dominance in communication and information distribution, countries have been able to free themselves from dictatorship, as shown in the Arab Revolutions or the Arab Quarter. The Internet provides both the correct solution and its drawbacks in equal measure. The dark Internet, where all types of drugs, weapons, and even human trafficking are marketed, is one specific example.
Internet censorship in the East reflects a variety of goals, from maintaining governmental stability to defending cultural norms. Governments have developed complex systems and made use of a variety of technologies to regulate the online environment. The degree to which online environments can be controlled, censored, and monitored is demonstrated by case studies from China, Iran, North Korea, and other Eastern countries. Such censorship has serious effects on the free exchange of ideas and information, and it still shapes millions of people’s digital experiences.
On the other hand, in the West, where the values of free speech and open debate predominate, how internet censorship is handled depends on striking a careful balance. Democracies struggle with the problems that are brought about by harmful online information, frequently passing legislation frameworks that seek to protect individuals without violating their rights. Western internet administration has been characterized by the struggle between upholding the value of free speech and combating problems like hate speech, false information, and online radicalization.
Looking ahead, internet censorship’s future is still uncertain. Nations‘ approaches to regulating online content will continue to be influenced by developing technologies, altering geopolitical environments, and change social standards. For politicians, tech corporations, and civil society players alike, finding the ideal balance between guaranteeing security and protecting civil rights will continue to be a major problem.
References:
Geographies of global Internet censorship – Published: 23 November 2010 – Barney Warf – Geo Journal volume 76, pages1–23 (2011)
A Taxonomy of Internet Censorship and Anti-Censorship – Christopher S. Leberknight – Princeton University
Internet Censorship in 2023: Where The World Stands Today – BroadbandSearch