Censorship

[QueenAdrock]

It's a topic that I have very strong opinions about, being a librarian (or half-librarian, I'm not quite done my degree yet). Some people say that Internet filters are mandatory for 'protecting children,' but oftentimes they're abused, don't work properly, etc. Someone trying to run a search for 'breast cancer' in a public library with filters will not be able to find the information; the word 'breast' is considered offensive and is automatically blocked, regardless of the context (forget about that chicken recipe you wanted to find, too!). I believe in intellectual freedom wholeheartedly, and believe the public should have free and open access to information.

I'm against all forms of Internet filters, regardless of context. But seeing them on a national, oppressive scale just breaks my heart. No government should have a say in what its citizens are allowed to read. China believes it has the authority to do so, however:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/30/olympics.internet.ap/index.html

I can't imagine living in such an oppressive society that they would filter the Internet for its citizens. This isn't the first time China's done it, and it certainly won't be the last. (n)

[DroppinScience]

Jesus, the list of abuses by China just piles up for this Olympics. Again, I'm wondering why there isn't a boycott from many countries (kind of like the boycott of the Moscow Olympics in 1980)?

[saz]

there's a similar sort of deal with internet censorship in the phillipines as well. all porn is blocked out, seeing as a huge majority of the country is catholic, but that doesn't include political sites, blogs and the like. it's a total cliche, but it is a slippery slope. i'm all for keeping porn away from those who should not be exposed to it, but at the same time those who decide what is censored may then censor a little more and a little more, to the point where it's just outright despotic. i can't imagine though not being able to access information on breast cancer. that's just absurd and my number one suspect are the churchies.