“Censorship reflects society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is the hallmark of the authoritarian regime” (Stewart. 2001,pg 50)
The Sydney morning herald released an article on the 23rd of September, 2006 entitled ‘censors come calling’. This got me thinking censorship is happening, it isn’t some sort of proverbial boogie man let lose to scare citizens to shut their traps and re consider what they put up on the internet. No this is happening, and yes I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no we cannot stop it!
The very idea of censorship sends me into a fit of palpitations, flare nostrils and so much anger that i feel that i feel like wildly destroying a beavers dam, just to see the look of disappoint and horror on his face when he realises that the house that he believed he was going to raise his kids in, yep the one that he spent hours on and valuable resources, had just been destroyed by my size 6 (eur36, uk4) feet.
Countries like Iran, Libya, Tunisia, Syria, Egypt and Vietnam all employ some form of censorship and it’s no surprise that Australia is going to be joining that list. That’s right Australia, Australia!...who would’ve guessed. The executive director of electronic frontiers Australia (EFA) says that Australia has some of the toughest rules in the world concerning censorship and the filtering of cites the contain content deemed as ‘harmful’ for viewers.
Well I’m sorry Australia but this just isn’t good enough, internet censorship is an evasion of privacy and strips society of its basic human right of freedom of speech and information. The very notion of internet censorship is not only evasive and unethical but it is also anti- democratic. Censorship may start with the censoring of pornographic sites but where the hell does it end?
In the blog “Baby it’s a wild world”, ewwlyndel raises the awareness of the existence of censorship on the Internet, which is even becoming established in Australia. I completely agree with the last paragraph, it truly is an evasion of societies privacy and takes away our freedom of speech and information.
ReplyDeleteThe reason behind censoring the Internet are pathetic, they say it’s for our “protection” but it is truly just another form of controlling us and in the end the only person that is being protected is the government. Internet censorship is just following the footsteps of many dictator countries such as Iran and China, in the end does Australia really want to be following their political and social issues.
I agree especially that Australia is very much turning itself into a nanny state; where the Government has deemed websites to be ‘harmful’ to our delicate and pure minds and decided that it’d be best, in fact, to keep them away from us entirely. I can honestly see (if the Government is being entirely truthful about it’s motivations) the point behind creating such a filter, but I believe everyone could be pleased if the filter was made voluntary; then those who wanted protection could have it, and those who didn’t were free to continue their online exploits. I think your point “Censorship may start with the censoring of pornographic sites but where the hell does it end?” is the one which I think of most often in relation to this issue, and I think others do as well. What does the Government do if we attempt to access these websites? What if we find a way around? Will the Thought Police drag us away in the middle of the night for conspiring against Gillard?
ReplyDeleteThis is how I imagine almost everyone feels about internet censorship (except for the actual proponents of censorship policies themselves). Yes, it is appalling that Australia’s government is taking the idea of a mandatory internet filter to a romantic dinner, with the hopes of taking it to bed at some stage later that evening.
ReplyDeleteOn principle, we should be pissed off if we aren’t already, if only due to the sheer hypocrisy. We are lumped in the same category of countries who are seen as ‘tyrannical’ regimes when it comes to technology. But when it comes to political and social issues, we are mysteriously holier-than-thou when we compare ourselves to say…Iran. Irony fail.
Amen, censoring sites which are seen as 'unfavourable' is not the answer. Internet blacklists are created by conservative sticks in the mud. It's all well and good to censor illegal content, but when we begin to censor things which we just don't agree with then there is an issue.
ReplyDeletePretty enjoy your articles, especially when “you feel like wildly destroying a beavers dam”…that’s the wild world! I agree that the internet censorship is an excuse to strips our right of freedom speech & information. “Protection” is the way they use to control the public so that their authorities keep stable. Censors are really confused, like there is something you need, in front on you but you can not touch it and they coercive take it away .
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