The Pros And Cons Of Internet Censorship

Did the benefits outweigh the risks in this particular situation? Was the government right in the first place when they had implemented this internet censorship? Too many questions one might think, but apparently, these are the truths about the internet censorship and its being the most controversial measure that the government had decided to counter and protect people from the harms of internet as the newest form of communication media (Zuchora-Walske, 2010, p. 2). Internet censorship has taken many forms as the new generation progressed – being more techy and savvy than ever. From just the normal filtering of search s... ... middle of paper ... ...tion to progress and modernization.

Our local communities play a significant role in the nurturing process and it is very unfortunate that people don’t realize the threat Internet poses on our communal bonding. So, what is the way forward? At this point, government censorship is extremely necessary to penetrate this social dilemma and initiate steps that can facilitate safe surfing. Even though the Internet has become indispensable in our lives, its excessive use has led to some serious detrimental effects on the society and it is about time we worked together as a nation to bring this stigma under control.

Monitoring the Internet has been a controversial issue regarding who should have access to the Internet, what is being put up, and what is being blocked. Some believe the Internet is a human right, while others believe it is a privilege and should be monitored by the government and businesses for their employees. There are both benefits as wells as negatives regarding whether the Internet should be monitored at all, if so, who monitors the internet and what rules are implemented. The Internet has allowed people to express ideas and communicate with each other around the world. Those that are against the government’s interference and monitoring of the Internet believe that they are entitled to privacy and the freedom of self-expression.

Anonymous Communication: The Rising Darkness? Through the years, the Internet has grown to be one of the most important aspect of human lives. By interacting with it for a long period, people have developed to create distinct Internet cultures, with anonymity being the most controversial. Anonymous communication is seen as the basis of an Internet culture which supports free speech and sharing, as well as being openly against authorities in general. The claim of Anonymity is that it ensures governments to not be able to monitor citizens, thus guaranteeing the privacy and simple rights.

But along with that, technology has inflicted negative effects on its users, such as addiction to mobile phones, constant use of the internet, and negative influences of media. By constantly using cell phones, people have become addicted to them and are unable to function without them. Overusing the internet has rendered people dumber and shallower thinkers. Media has caused its users to become addicted and has negatively influenced their lifestyles. It can be clearly seen that technology is a double-edged sword that should be wielded wisely.

The Internet is a vast network of computers, both public and private, which spans the globe. Recently, there has been a movement by governments worldwide, and the United States government in particular, to remove content deemed inappropriate from the Internet. However, numerous factors such as: the abundance of less restrictive alternatives, the impossibility of applying American law and community standards to an international communications medium, the active choice required to access the Internet's resources, the violation of our constitutional rights which it entails, and the fact that it is the parent's and not the government's responsibility to protect children contradict this rash and poorly thought out idea. While censorship is intolerable in all its forms, it is especially odious, inappropriate, and unworkable when applied to the Internet, an international medium of free speech, information, and communication. The Internet began as a link between major universities and government computer centers to facilitate the sharing of information and allow certain universities to utilize the few existing supercomputing centers.

The dependance on the internet has become of great importance in today's world, and so imposing regulations and limits to it creates a controversial polemic worldwide. Since the Digital Copyright Millennium Act, internet became more restricted. However, this wasn't so much of a problem because, firstly the internet usage wasn't as common as nowadays, and secondly because the new internet regulations are far more restrictive if not totally limiting to the freedom of the internet. SOPA and PIPA are copyright legislations that fight against online piracy by blocking access to websites judged as insecure, and seek court orders against websites "enabling or facilitating piracy" (BBC, 2012:1). It is war between individuals fighting for global freedom and authorities striving for global security against crimes of copyright infringement.

The issue of free speech on the Internet has been a topic of discussion around the world within the past years. It is a unique communication medium and is powerful than the traditional media[2]. Because the Internet can not be compared equally to other mediums of communication, it deserves the utmost freedom of speech protection from the government. The restriction of speech on the Internet takes away from individual's rights and freedom from experiencing the Internet's benefits and uses. Information found on the Internet is endless and boundless and this poses the question, "should the government be allowed to regulate the information and content being transmitted or posted online?"

The negative impact of Internet on behavioral changes in users In fact, internet has a considerable impact on the behavior of individuals and their way of thinking. Scientists say juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave. They say human ability to focus is being undermined by bursts of information (Richtel, 2010). In fact, internet can cause the information overload in users because they have access to the huge amount of information which human brain seem to be hardly able to p... ... middle of paper ... ...t and telecommunication systems along with mass media, people will hardly be ever refuse from internet, unless a new, more progressive technology emerges. At the moment, the impact of Internet on human brains and the way of thinking is obvious and almost irrevocable but the impact can apparent its effects in a long-run perspective.

With such a large number of people connected to the Internet, concerns for the safety of viewers have arisen, especially in the area of adult pornography. Many of the people who oppose adult pornography have advocated a law requiring Internet filters that restrict access to all pornographic material on the Internet. However, a law that requires Internet filters for all citizens are not the best solutions because there is insufficient justification to implement them and that many problems would occur from their implementation. The filtering of adult pornography on the Internet is not justifiable for a myriad of different reasons. First, children can be protected from accidentally viewing pornography through more convenient solutions than a law requiring Internet filters.