Understanding The Reasons For Internet Censorship
Statistics reveal that the penetration rate of internet exceeds thirty-four percent worldwide for the year 2012 . On an average , this accounts for an estimate of a quarter population of the world and is highly indicative of the emancipative potential of internet . While the internet has grown to be one of the most popular communication mediums worldwide , for a number of governments , this emerges as an alarming trend . Over the past few years , there have been multiple attempts made by different regulatory authorities to limit access to the internet in the name of internet censorship .
Before analyzing this concept or offering a moral critique on the same , it is important to realize the reasons for internet censorship . Firstly , the usage of internet has evolved from being a mere “ e-tail ” outlet to a cyberspace which open rooms for digital gambling , online videogames , music , television programs , online chat , pornography and most importantly , continuous addiction to social media platforms such as Facebook , YouTube and Google . Given the high penetration rate of internet usage into our daily lives , it is safe to assume that it has a potential and profound impact on our culture , behaviour and social relations . As the boundaries of virtual and real world become blurred , access to internet has emerged not as a luxury but as a necessity . Similarly , increasing usage has also lead to an increase in internet crimes and privacy thefts that have revealed a dark side to the total power of the internet .
Internet censorship has therefore emerged in different forms . Cyber censorship imposed by governments may vary in terms of the scope of limitations or the depth . While the former caters to the overall range and types of censored websites , the former takes into account the degree of interposition . Governments tend to make use of internet censorship in order to reduce the