We all live in a world where almost everything is wired right down to the core. And by that I mean connected to the internet, of course. Imagine if you wake up one morning and find out that everything else is in order but you cannot access Facebook. What a dire scenario that would be, now multiply that by a million, websites that is.
What I am trying to picture here is a situation whereby internet censorship become rampant and out of control. In an article released by The Australian entitled “China breaks word, censors world media at Olympics” published on July 31 2008, internet censorship gets pushed to the forefront as media representatives from around the world unite in condemning the Chinese government for partially blocking their internet access, making certain websites like those of Amnesty International and BBC unable to be viewed by their counterparts who are covering the Olympic Games in Beijing.
They would later revert back by complying with the demands of the media (“IOC convinces China to unblock net"); only for Chinese President Hu Jintao to release a statement, on the very same day, warning the media not to make use of the censorship issue as a point to politicize the Olympics (“Stay out of politics, Hu to media”).
The issue of internet censorship is not new by any means, even in our lovely country. Jeff Ooi have already voiced his concerns back in July of last year when the government, under recommendation of Bank Negara, cut down access to four online investment websites for allegedly practicing “questionable” methods of currency trading ("The start of internet censorship?").
The government’s decision was somewhat supported, however, by an article entitled “The Net: To cut or not to cut?” which suggests that the authorities have valid points in “policing” web users from unrestricted access of the internet to prevent them from getting entangled in sensitive issues that revolves around political, moral, religious and the likes.
Reference
Glenda Korporaal and Rowan Callick. (2008).
Glenda Korporaal and Louise Evans. (2008). IOC convinces
Rowan Callick. (2008). Stay out of politics, Hu to media. Available: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24115542-25837,00.html. Last accessed 11 November 2008.
Jeff Ooi. (2007). The start of Internet censorship?. Available: http://www.jeffooi.com/2007/06/the_start_of_internet_censorsh.php. Last accessed 11 November 2008.
Rozana Sani. (2008). The Net: To cut or not to cut? . Available: www.nst.com.my/Current_News/techNu/Monday/CoverStory/20080428092847/Article/index_html . Last accessed 11 November 2008.
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