{"id":475,"date":"2023-04-12T06:22:15","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T06:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/?p=475"},"modified":"2023-05-06T06:47:02","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T06:47:02","slug":"what-is-internet-censorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/articles\/what-is-internet-censorship\/","title":{"rendered":"Internet Censorship: Definition, Types, and How It Can Affect You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Internet censorship is a big deal. The days of complete cyber freedom are all but gone, with companies and governments interfering with the web. Their involvement is ruining the cyberworld for the rest of us in various ways, with censorship being the most prominent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Internet censorship is the control or suppression<\/strong> of what can be accessed, published, or viewed online. It happens when governments, organizations, or individuals restrict or block access to web content. In this article, we\u2019ll be explaining how censorship happens, its impact on the internet, and how to avoid it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some countries censor the internet because they don\u2019t want their citizens to see things that might upset them or make them think differently. They also might do this to keep people from organizing protests or speaking out against the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their goal, usually, is to make it difficult to get accurate information about what\u2019s going on in the world or stop people from being able to share their opinions freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, the government internet censorship can happen for a variety of other reasons<\/strong>, including political, religious, or moral grounds and restricting media freedom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While government-level censorship is meant to shut down dissidents, there are other reasons why organizations and groups of people restrict internet access to others. An organization may block certain websites to protect its members from offensive or inappropriate content or simply to increase productivity by limiting access to entertainment and social media sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Censorship of the internet happens in one of two directions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Different things can be censored, like specific pictures, words, or whole websites and internet protocols. There are also different ways to censor things – blocking either full access to the material or limiting searches for censored terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One type of censorship is when a government makes it illegal to say certain things<\/strong>. For instance, in China, the government has made it illegal to talk about certain topics online, like democracy or human rights. They do this by censoring websites that discuss these topics and punishing people who break the rules. Governments work with ISPs to put those restrictions into motion, either by outright blocking access to websites or redirecting traffic to similar, regulated sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another type of censorship is when social media companies block certain content from their platforms<\/strong>. For example, Facebook has been criticized for censoring body positivity and sex education posts. Likewise, YouTube has been accused of censoring videos about LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, and COVID-19 awareness. In this case, platforms issue take-down notices, followed by the removal of said content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not uncommon for governments to even force tech companies to impose content restrictions based on their own propaganda. In such a case, the government would strong-arm content hosts into submission by threatening outright bans of their platforms. As a counterpoint, Twitter has started clearly marking government-related profiles, so users can see at a glance whether the profile could be a part of a propaganda machine. It\u2019s not much, but at least it helps fight the censorship on the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, censorship can happen on a smaller scale within a single institution. For example, a school may restrict access to certain parts of the internet or even key phrases. That way, the students cannot use the school\u2019s computers to visit inappropriate websites like adult websites or social networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, employers may put blocks on specific apps, services, and websites, so the employees can only access the software and websites they allow them to. While we\u2019ll be discussing how to avoid content blocks and censorship using free VPNs and similar tactics, we strongly advise caution in such situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some countries have rigid censorship laws, while others have none at all. China is well-known for its internet restrictions, which some call the \u201cgreat firewall of China.\u201d The Chinese government blocks access to many websites and social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter. Google\u2019s search engine, as well as all other Google products, is also banned in China. The government is censoring search results and blocks certain words from being used online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Saudi Arabia, the government filters content based on religious and moral values. It usually blocks websites that contain pornography or material that could be considered offensive to Islam. In Iran, the government blocks websites that are critical of the regime or that contain information that could be used to foment dissent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Russia, a new law requires internet service providers to censor websites that the government decides are \u201cextremist.\u201d This can include foreign websites that have critical opinions of the government in question or that provide information about protests or other forms of defiance.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is Internet Censorship and How It Happens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Different Types of Web Censorship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Government-level Censorship<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Platform Restrictions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Local Restrictions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Censorship Works in Different Countries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n