Understanding The Reasons For Internet Censorship Statistics reveal that the penetration rate of internet exceeds thirty-four percent worldwide for the year 2012. On an average, this accounts for an estimate of a quarter population of the world and is highly indicative of the emancipative potential of internet. While the internet has grown to be one of the most popular communication mediums worldwide, for a number of governments, this emerges as an alarming trend. Over the past few years, there have been multiple attempts made by different regulatory authorities to limit access to the internet in the name of internet censorship.
Before analyzing this concept or offering a moral critique on the same, it is important to realize the reasons for internet censorship. Firstly, the usage of internet has evolved from being a mere “e-tail� outlet to a cyberspace which open rooms for digital gambling, online videogames, music, television programs, online chat, pornography and most importantly, continuous addiction to social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Google. Given the high penetration rate of internet usage into our daily lives, it is safe to assume that it has a potential and profound impact on our culture, behaviour and social relations. As the boundaries of virtual and real world become blurred, access to internet has emerged not as a luxury but as a necessity. Similarly, increasing usage has also lead to an increase in internet crimes and privacy thefts that have revealed a dark side to the total power of the internet.
Internet censorship has therefore emerged in different forms. Cyber censorship imposed by governments may vary in terms of the scope of limitations or the depth. While the former caters to the overall range and types of censored websites, the former takes into account the degree of interposition. Governments tend to make use of internet censorship in order to reduce the
threats associated with cyberspace, to reinforce their political power over the masses and to cultivate political repression. Also, in a number of countries, religious controls are the prime motivator behind internet censorship, limiting the exposure and spread of contradictory ideas. Deliberately formed notions of compromised national security and threats to stable social development are also invoked by governments in order to impose internet censorship.
Other than this internet censorship is used to prevent theft of intellectual property such as limitations and reforms imposed against illegal download of copyright content or music. A few governments also use censorship in order to oppress minorities, under the umbrella of cultural restrictions. For instance, the unavailability of certain government websites in different languages maybe viewed as the suppression of certain ethnic minorities. Overall, internet censorship measures adopted by different countries are in fact an act designed to reinforce their political strategies for retaining power. China, Iran, Russia and India are some of the worst internet censorship states engaging in heavy censorship strategies.
Source: http://www.researchomatic.com/internet-censorship-150493.html