The Internet:Censorship Free Information

As the technology revolutioncontinues to advance and innovate bigger, better and faster ways to communicateinformation, many people are concerned about how this will affect themainstream consuming public. Recently one technological innovation forcommunicating information has become the topic of much discussion. The Internetis now the telecommunications tool of choice for information seekers around theworld. This revolutionary innovation has just barely begun to maximize its fullpotential as the gateway to unlimited information and communication. However,this unlimited access to information and the lack of governance on the Internethas brought the censorship issue front and center. With the Internet having thecapability of connecting people thousands of miles apart and the power toexchange information at lightning speed. Many people are trying to censor andharness this awesome technological innovation.

With the lack of restrictions on theinternet just about anyone can build websites, chat with friends, trade shareson the stock market, start global movements, read news, or just surf the netfor whatever they want. However, the freedom of the Internet for gatheringinformation has recently come under fire in its ability to access any type ofinformation from global movements to pornography. Zoë Baird, president of the Markle Foundation, a policy andinformation technologies group believes, “the Internet has become part of themainstream and therefore mainstream governmental institutions will be expectedto step in to protect people from harm and encourage innovation”(Baird15). With consolidation of mainstreamnews media, the Internet has become a very important technological innovationfor keeping public discourse alive. If government intervenes, it is likely thebalance of power controlling the Internet will soon be in the hands of a fewpeople. If one person or company like Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation werecapable of controlling and censoring the Internet, the diversity of informationwould surely suffer. Kalle Lasn, author of Culture Jam and founder of Adbustersmagazine reflects on the restrictions of information, “When a handful of mediamega–corporations control not only the daily newspapers, and TV airwaves but,magazines, book publishing, motion pictures, home video and music industries aswell, information and cultural diversity both plummet”(Lasn 25). With theInternet now serving millions of people worldwide it has become the “Information Superhighway”. Since the Internet is the world’s unrestricted playground manyfear it will be very hard to govern. Zoë Baird says: “the borderless nature ofthe internet makes effective internet governance even more challenging” (Baird15). It will be nearly impossible for the Internet to be governed now that iscrosses all national boundaries. Plus, how can the Internet be censored orgoverned by one country when information originates from around the world? Itcannot, but this issue is on the mind of Zoë Baird and many others, “Tensionshave arisen over such issues as whether a country has jurisdiction over theInternet activities originating in other countries” (Baird 15). With the rapidgrowth of the Internet and its ability to serve millions of people, censorshiphas tried to limit the amount of information being distributed.

The main challenge in keeping theInternet open and available for everyone to use is censorship. With theInternet now helping millions of people around the world to unlimited information,why would anyone want to restrict it? The wide range of information, which makes up the Internet and mainlythe information not suitable for minors, has been under attack for sometimenow. In the Supreme Court case Reno v. ACLU: The first amendment, electronic media, and the internet indecencyissue, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling on the Communications Decency ACTof 1996, to keep the internet protected from censorship. The CommunicationsDecency ACT prohibits online display and transmission of indecent material tominors of less than eighteen years of age (Craig 1). The U.S. Supreme Courtruled the Internet as unique medium and that the CDACT went against the freedom of speech which is protected by the first amendment. Supreme Court Justice JohnPaul Stevens proceed to identify key issues, noting that the web provides readers with “A vast library including millions of readily available andindexed publications and a sprawling mall offering goods and services”(Craig 1). The Supreme Court ruling was a huge victory for Internet users around theworld in keeping censorship and government out. The credibility and power ofthe U.S. Supreme Court has been able to hold off censorship from the Internet. Signaling the battle is over for now, the Supreme Court added, “Ultimately, indecent speech on the internet maybe one type of communication that simply cannot be legislated to protect the young”(1). This is a good thing because itwill not force the intellectual world to be censored from information, which isinvaluable to making decisions.

With more and more people using theInternet everyday the exchange rate at which information flows is increasing.The individual Internet user can seek out what information they deem importantwhile at the same time giving them more control over the information they arereceiving. In explaining why the Internet is a unique source of information andwhy it should not be censored the Supreme Court said, “The receipt ofinformation on the internet requires a series of affirmative steps moredeliberate and directed than merely turning a dial” (Craig 1). By saying theInternet is an interactive way to gather information the court is puttingresponsibility on the individual Internet user, not the system. According tothe January 2003 publication of the Economist, the article “Power to thePeople” explains how the Internet has empowered the public, “Citizens [will] nolonger have to rely on information spoon-fed by politicians, but be able tofind out for themselves” (17). In keeping the Internet from being censored,much information that would normally not be available is now free toaccess. With much of the mainstreamelite media of television, radio and print news being controlled by corporateexecutives and editors, the Internet offers an alternative to uncensoredinformation. Many people in the public sector are disenfranchised with thecurrent political system and the Economist believes the internet will restorethe electorate’s civil engagement, “Joining in a protest on a web discussion isnot the same as stuffing envelopes for a big political party, but it ispolitical participation nevertheless”(3). The Internet has given many people away to have their voice heard and not have it censored by political orindividual agendas.

When dealing with the Internet andhow it should be censored, it is important to remember that access toinformation should not be limited because it can be offensive, vulgar, oroffers a different point of view. As Lasn suggested earlier, public discoursewill shrink or cease to exist if our information is controlled by a small elitegroup of people. In summarizing what the Internet is all about Supreme CourtJustice Stevens wrote,” The record demonstrates that the growth of the Internethas been and continues to be phenomenal…the interest in encouraging freedom ofexpression in a democratic society outweighs any theoretical but unprovenbenefit of censorship” (Craig 1). With the help of the Supreme Court theInternet will remain uncensored and be available for anyone, from anywhere touse. As time passes the Internet will grow and innovate to meet the continuingdemands of the mainstream consuming public. But, it is very important theInternet remains unrestricted as it continues to grow and help more and morepeople find what they need. For as long as the internet remains censorshipfree, access to important information will be available to those who seek it.

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Halstuk, Martin E. “Inreview: The Threat to Freedom of Information.” Columbia Journalism Review40. 5 (2002): 8.

Martin Halstuk discusses the changes made to the 1996Freedom of Information ACT by the Bush administration. Halstuk talks about howa new Governmental administration takes office, and then gives its own interpretationsof the FOIA. This article gives background information, which pertains to theFreedom of Information ACT 1996. Halstuk teaches media law in the College ofCommunications at Pennsylvania State University.

Craig, J. Robert. “The FirstAmendment, Electronic Media, and the Internet Decency Issue.” Communicationsand the Law 20. 1 (1998): 1.

This article is a review of the Supreme Court ruling,Reno v. ACLU dealing with the first amendment, electronic media, and theInternet indecency issue. Contained within this article are good excerpts ofcomments and responses by the U.S. Supreme Court justices on why the Internetshould remain free from censorship. It also deals with the CommunicationsDecency ACT, which prohibits government from interrupting the flow ofconversation on the Internet.

“Power to the people.” Economist25 Jan. 2003: 17.

In this article the Economist gives a summary on how theInternet has reinvigorated the political processes and how autocraticgovernments use information. The Economist suggests that now with the Internetcitizens do not have to believe the information force fed to them bypoliticians. Individuals can find out the information they need to know and canparticipate in the political process from home. People will soon be able tovote from home, which will cause a shift to representative democracy.

“Digital Dilemmas.” Economist25 Jan. 2003: 3.

The Economist gives a survey of Internet society. Itbelieves that as technologies continue to get bigger, better, and faster theywill cause a revolutionary change in society, culture, economic and politicalsystems. These changes will greatly impact our way of life. It talks about thelegal battles ahead of the technological revolutionaries and how they willfight to keep control of the Internet from government. The article also dealswith how telecommunications have just begun to effect how people gather information.

Baird, Zoë. “Governing theInternet.” Foreign Affairs 81. 6 (2002): 15.

In this article Zoë Baird president of the Marklefoundation challenges that government needs to take control of the Internet.She talks about how the Internet has become the information superhighway of themainstream public. Baird gives reasons why the Internet needs to be governed, andthat the borderless nature of the Internet will make it hard. She believeskeeping public interest at the forefront will steer Internet governance in theright direction.

Stephens, David O. “Managing Records and Information in Web Environments: Policies formultinational Companies.” Information Management Journal 35. 2 (2001):64.

This article deals with how the Internet has affectedmultinationals companies and how they manage records on intranets. It givesdetails on how business should deal with security issues dealing withinformation they place on websites. Also gives insight on how multinationalcompanies need to develop common policy when dealing with the transfer ofinformation.

Berkowitz, Bruce;Hahn, Robert W. “Cybersecurity: Who’s watching the store?” Science and Technology 19. 3 (2003):55.

The article deals with the challenges of protecting theInternet information of cyberspace from the U.S. government. It also gives abackground on the Internet revolution and the idea of disinformation warfare.It gives comment on how effective the five-cyber security components are. Plus,what is needed in public policy in how to prevent and deal with cyber attacks.

Lasn, Kalle. [Book], Culture Jam: How to ReverseAmerica’s Suicidal Binge – and why we must. New York, NY: Harper CollinsPublishers, Inc., 1999

Kalle Lasnis the founder of Adbusters magazine which offers and alternative point of viewto American culture. In this text Lasn outlines how America has turned into aconsumption driven society. He also talks about his battle with corporateAmerica dealing with the censorship of alternative information and thought.Kalle is the originator of Black Friday, TV turn-off week and many othergrass-roots protests.