Thursday, October 08, 2009
The World Under Censorship
Nations have been censoring and scrutinizing as much of the internet as possible since its existence. Result of a weak government that is scared by the speed of information from the internet.
Cuba, just like China, is urgently fearfull of the impact that the flow of information by free internet access can cause to its political dictatorship. Patrick Symmes describes in his article “Che is Dead ,” 1998 Cuba is challenging an era of Digital Revolution against that of the Cuban Revolution. Cuba, a closely controlled society for years is now being challenged by the advanced flow of information that the internet permits. Once the internet let loose, it could decentralize information and finally achieve a democratized government. In addition, Symmes says,
This allowing us to understand how the internet can lead a government to fear the internet knowledge.
The article "Cuba Tightens its Control Over Internet,” 2004 by CNN Reuters furthermore illustrate how the Government of Fidel Castro tries to limit the usage of internet in Cuba. The Cuban society has the idea that “The Internet is for foreigners and the Intranet is for Cubans” because the inability of Cuban’s to surf the web. Cubans are only allowed to use computers in a Cybercafé where they can send and receive e-mails across Cuba after requesting an email from the Cuban Postal Service. After that they can only surf those websites that the Cuban government allow. At a glance you might think it seems easy to talk to someone abroad however, the dictators have set economic barriers. Castro has demanded that Cubans pay a price of $4.50 for a three- hour prepaid card; this being one-third of the average Cuban monthly wage.
Other countries like Tunisia also experience the denial of free usage of the internet. The article by Sanjay Suri “Tunisian Media not Free, say Human Rights Bodies,”2005 explains that the country is dealing with a crisis. The unwillingness of the Tunisian authorities to stop the control and censorship of the internet have made matters worse. Suri, states how many human rights groups like the FIDH (The International Federation for Human Rights) are attempting to dialogue with the Tunisian authorities to allow the usage of uncontrolled internet.The situation in Tunisia has gotten out of control Suri says,
Nonetheless, nations are left to deal with the crisis of free circulation of information by the internet. Governments fear the ability of people to voice their opinions freely without restrictions. This has evolved into a constant battle between the people and the government on how much or how little censorship there should be.
Cuba, just like China, is urgently fearfull of the impact that the flow of information by free internet access can cause to its political dictatorship. Patrick Symmes describes in his article “Che is Dead ,” 1998 Cuba is challenging an era of Digital Revolution against that of the Cuban Revolution. Cuba, a closely controlled society for years is now being challenged by the advanced flow of information that the internet permits. Once the internet let loose, it could decentralize information and finally achieve a democratized government. In addition, Symmes says,
“Since information wants to be free, then so do the people who have it -
setting the stage for a titanic political struggle between the last Soviet-style
dictatorship in the world and the first Internet insurgency.”
The article "Cuba Tightens its Control Over Internet,” 2004 by CNN Reuters furthermore illustrate how the Government of Fidel Castro tries to limit the usage of internet in Cuba. The Cuban society has the idea that “The Internet is for foreigners and the Intranet is for Cubans” because the inability of Cuban’s to surf the web. Cubans are only allowed to use computers in a Cybercafé where they can send and receive e-mails across Cuba after requesting an email from the Cuban Postal Service. After that they can only surf those websites that the Cuban government allow. At a glance you might think it seems easy to talk to someone abroad however, the dictators have set economic barriers. Castro has demanded that Cubans pay a price of $4.50 for a three- hour prepaid card; this being one-third of the average Cuban monthly wage.
Other countries like Tunisia also experience the denial of free usage of the internet. The article by Sanjay Suri “Tunisian Media not Free, say Human Rights Bodies,”2005 explains that the country is dealing with a crisis. The unwillingness of the Tunisian authorities to stop the control and censorship of the internet have made matters worse. Suri, states how many human rights groups like the FIDH (The International Federation for Human Rights) are attempting to dialogue with the Tunisian authorities to allow the usage of uncontrolled internet.The situation in Tunisia has gotten out of control Suri says,
"One lawyer was convicted last week for three and a half years for publishingThis shows how anyone can be imprisoned not regarding their social class status in the country of Tunisia
information on torture cases, and another was sentenced to four months
imprisonment for defending the first,"
Nonetheless, nations are left to deal with the crisis of free circulation of information by the internet. Governments fear the ability of people to voice their opinions freely without restrictions. This has evolved into a constant battle between the people and the government on how much or how little censorship there should be.
