Internet censorship is the blocking of specific online content by governments, businesses, schools, and individuals. It can be used to protect users or prevent access to illegal or undesirable material. Various methods can be used, but some are more effective than others. It is a controversial issue with supporters and opponents.
Internet censorship prevents users from creating or viewing specific online content and can be done by governments, businesses, schools, and even home users. Some examples of content that may be censored include materials dealing with pornography, graphic violence, terrorism, and political concepts not accepted by a specific region or government. Some reasons for Internet censorship seek to protect users, such as censoring content that is inappropriate in an environment with children; other similar complaints may have malicious intentions. There are also various methods you can use to block inappropriate material, and some are more effective than others.
Every government, company, school and individual may have a different reason for using online censorship. Governments can block websites that display material that is illegal in a specific country or websites that discuss undesirable political opinions. Companies can block websites that employees might use to waste company time, including social networking, instant messaging, and online gaming websites. Schools can block students from websites that students might use to waste time, but they can also try to protect children from viewing content containing pornography and violence. Home users can use blocking software to block a list of specific websites or entire categories of sites from being used.
Various technical methods can be used for Internet censorship, ranging from blocking an individual user’s Internet Protocol (IP) address to disconnecting any physical router providing access to the material. IP blocking, Domain Name System (DNS) filtering, and packet filtering are all considered methods of partial censorship, as there is a possibility that users could bypass the blocking. For example, proxy servers are useful for bypassing most of these partial filtering techniques and reducing the security of these Internet censorship tools. The full block method involves disconnecting routers so that no one in the area can bypass the block. Some governments use the full block method due to its reliability.
Internet censorship is a controversial issue and has many supporters and opponents. Those who advocate Internet censorship argue that it protects citizens from harmful material and can prevent political upheaval in some areas. Advocates often point to the importance of blocking illegal child and adult pornography as a good reason to censor online content. Opponents of Internet censorship argue that it takes away the right to free speech, that governments can use the tool to keep citizens from knowing important information, and that some can abuse its power.
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