by Danny Kwok

Created on: December 27, 2007

To censor or not to be censored, that is the question. The debate on this topic is still on going ever since the Internet is created. Three perspectives can be seen with the evolution of censorship on the Internet: no censorship, legal censorship and self-censorship.

{Perspective 1: No censorship}
In the pioneer wave of the Internet, censorship is unheard of. Like the early days of Wild West, every land is up for grabs. People rush to stake their claims in the virtual world. Boundaries become non-existent and information is easily disseminated. Many claim that this is true essence of the Internet on which the sharing of information is easily obtainable.

However, chaos and vices proliferate over time. Like a double-edged sword, the Internet opens the pathway to reach all evils around the world. Using the Internet, extremists can propagate their radical ideals while criminals commit their wrongdoings behind the monitors. Before long, government in many nations starts to see the need to censor and patrol the Internet.

{Perspective 2: Legal censorship}
Laws are erected and imposed similar to that in print and media. Initially, three main reasons hinder the spread of legal censorship. Firstly, censorship in the Internet runs contrary to its ideal in freedom of speech. Secondly, censorship is more difficult to implement in the Internet than in the physical world. There is also the question of jurisdiction and control in the boundaryless world.

Lastly, it is costly to patrol the wide frontier. As cost continues to deter the issue of implementing legal censorship, a sudden turn of event in the rise of terrorism changes the mentality of many governments. The aftermath of 9/11 shakes the whole world to this invisible threat of terror. Thus, this leads to a string of technologies that are created to censor or restrict websites.

{Perspective 3: Self-censorship}
Editor, publishers or even authors have been doing self-censorship for ages. This includes checking for profanities, racial or defamatory remarks. In conservative countries, these contents are even more restricted. Yet, in the Internet, anyone can be an author.

As the Internet imposes no restrictions, rational humans are bounded by these rules to censor their own contents. This form of self-censorship is cultivated through cultures, values and education. It is also with these values that one would determine the right and the wrong.

While the debate on censorship rages on, technologies will continue to improve dramatically to enhance the censorship of the Internet. Legal censorship will be so effective that it could stifle the beliefs on which the Internet is created. Instead of questioning whether censorship should be enforced, people must be educated and taught to look into their inner values and beliefs in deciding what to be censored. It is through self-censorship that one can truly ensure that the Internet continues to remain free.

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