[Sigiii-l] Plaza: Don't forget Big Borther

[Michel J. Menou]

Silenced. An international report on censorship and control of the
Internet
Privacy International, UK
GreenNat Educational Trust, UK

Report: www.privacyinternational.org/survey/censorship.

September 2003

Silenced is an independent research initiative managed jointly by
Privacy International and the GreenNet Educational Trust. The
twelve-month project was undertaken through a collaboration of more
than fifty experts and advocates throughout the world. The work was
made possible by a grant from the Open Society Institute.

The Internet has evolved to become an increasingly important platform
not just for economic development, but also as a support for advocates
who wish to express their opinion freely and to work toward the
development of democracy. The medium has provided opportunities for
citizens to participate in forums, and to discuss and debate issues
that concern them. Unlike other media where the information flow is
unidirectional - from the government to the masses - the Internet
allowed a multi-way communication process giving the chance for
anybody to air their opinions and views on issues affecting them. The
development of the Internet has lead to more horizontal and less
vertical communication. Control and censorship has a substantial
effect on the Internet because it undermines confidence and trust in
the medium and inhibits crucial flows of data.

This study has found that censorship of the Internet is commonplace in
most regions of the world. It is clear that in most countries over the
past two years there has been an acceleration of efforts to either
close down or inhibit the Internet. In some countries, for example in
China and Burma, the level of control is such that the Internet has
relatively little value as a medium for organised free speech, and its
used could well create additional dangers at a personal level for
activists. The September 11, 2001 attacks have given numerous
governments the opportunity to promulgate restrictive policies that
their citizens had previously opposed. There has been an acceleration
of legal authority for additional snooping of all kinds, particularly
involving the Internet, from increased email monitoring to the
retention of Web logs and communications data. Simultaneously,
governments have become more secretive about their own activities,
reducing information that was previously available and refusing to
adhere to policies on freedom of information.

Governments of developing nations rely on Western countries to supply
them with the necessary technologies of surveillance and control, such
as digital wiretapping equipment, deciphering equipment, scanners,
bugs, tracking equipment and computer intercept systems. The transfer
of surveillance technology from first to third world is now a
lucrative sideline for the arms industry. Without the aid of this
technology transfer, it is unlikely that non-democratic regimes could
impose the current levels of control over Internet activity.

One of the most important trends in recent years is the growth of
multinational corporate censors whose agendas are very different from
those of governments. It is arguable that in the first decade of the
21st century, corporations will rival governments in threatening
Internet freedoms. Some American cable companies seek to turn the
Internet into a controlled distribution medium like TV and radio, and
are putting in place the necessary technological changes to the
Internet’s infrastructure to do so. Aggressive protection of corporate
intellectual property has result in substantial legal action against
users, and a corresponding deterioration in trust across the Internet.

A wide variety of methods are used to restrict and/or regulate
Internet access. These include: applying laws and licenses, content
filtering, tapping and surveillance, pricing and taxation policies,
telecommunication markets manipulation, hardware and software
manipulation and self censorship.

There are some positive developments within this survey. Countries
have established protections, countries have enshrined protections,
companies have fought for the rights of privacy of individuals,
technologies have sustained the ability of dissident groups to speak
freely and access content privately, differences in laws in countries
has sheltered the speech of the oppressed. Technological developments
are being implemented to protect a free Internet, but the knowledge
gap between radical innovators and restrictive institutions appears to
be closing.