Internet Censorship

While legally this topic shares much with other forms of censorship, internet censorship specifically deals with the restriction of online content. The largest point of interest is the reach of the internet regardless of what policies one country creates concerning allowable content, providers in other countries can post whatever is allowed under their respective legal systems. While countries have made attempts to restrict what is obtainable, such as Google and China striking a deal over filtering its search engine, the ease of accessibility remains the largest obstacle to being able to control what people can find online.

Wikipedia Definition & Overview – Internet Censorship
Internet censorship is the control or suppression of the publishing of, or access to information on the Internet. It may be carried out by governments or by private organizations at the behest of government, regulators, or on their own initiative.

 

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) webpage on Internet Censorship
The ACLU’s vision of an uncensored Internet was clearly shared by the U.S. Supreme Court when it declared, in Reno v. ACLU, the Internet to be a free speech zone, deserving at least as much First Amendment protection as that afforded to books, newspapers and magazines.

Amnesty International – Internet Censorship
Amnesty International portal with news, blogs and issues on Internet Censorship.

Google Battles With China Over Internet Censorship
This article shows Google’s battle with internet censorship in many countries like China and at least 40 other countries in the world.

Google’s Fallout With China
This article describes the stringiest internet censorship in China and its recent fallout with Google.

How Internet Censorship Works
An explanation of the methods of restricting online content.

Internet Censorship and Control
A collection of peer reviewed papers on the topics of Internet Censorship and Control.

Internet Censorship by Country
Internet censorship by country provides information on the types and levels of Internet censorship or filtering that is occurring in countries around the world. Includes map.

Internet Censorship –  Huffington Post
Recent posts that relate Internet censorship.

Internet Censorship – Mashable Website
Recent stories and news about Internet censorship.

Internet censorship in China and Iran
This newspaper article illustrates for the need to stop internet censorship in countries like Iran and China to promote wider internet access to the public.

Internet Censorship in China – New York Times
News about Internet Censorship in China

Internet Censorship News – ABC News

Internet Censorship World Map
This world map shows that what countries are affected by censorship around the world.

Internet Freedom – Index Website
Recent news that relate Internet freedom.

OpenNet Initiative
A group involved with monitoring and reporting on internet censorship/surveillance.

Promoting free expression on the internet
Google’s stance on the freedom of expression on the internet.

Pros and Cons of Censorship
This article discusses the pros and cons of internet censorship.

Psiphon
A software service that bypasses online filtering of content by acting as a web proxy.

Reporters Without Borders – “Internet enemies” campaign
Reporters Without Borders has information on the freedom levels in all countries, including information specifically on internet freedom. They also have rankings for the countries with the worst current conditions for internet freedom.

TED Talk: A look behind the Great Firewall of China
Journalist Michael Anti gives a unique look beyond the Great Firewall of China in a recent TED Talk. Watch below.

TED Video: Rebecca MacKinnon – Let’s take back the Internet!
In this powerful talk from TEDGlobal, Rebecca MacKinnon describes the expanding struggle for freedom and control in cyberspace, and asks: How do we design the next phase of the Internet with accountability and freedom at its core, rather than control?

Telecommunications Act of 1996 & Reno v. ACLU
The Telecommunications Act of 1996, with Title V featuring preliminary restrictions surrounding pornographic material on the internet. Additionally, it maintained that ISPs are not liable for the actions of users of their services. However, in 1997, the Supreme Court upheld the 1996 case Reno v. ACLU, citing an infringement on free speech.

The Trend of Internet Censorship
This article describes the ongoing and rising trend of internet censorship in many countries.

Top 10 Internet-censored Countries
USA Today releases news about top 10 Internet-censored countries around the world.

Video — YouTube
Faceblocked: Internet Censorship in China. (05/26/10)