Can Internet Censorship Be Justified?

Can Internet Censorship be justified?

The world we live in now is a world where we are dependent on technologies especially on the field of communication. It is undeniable that communication, no matter in what form, is the most important aspect in our lives. However, with the digitalization of communication, the flow control of the information across is very important and cannot be overlooked. Internet censorship is one of the ways to regulate and filter the flow of information across the Internet. It can be good to filter out sensitive information such as classified documents belonged to a country and also to curb early exposure of pornographic materials to minors. While internet censorship is very pleasing to the ears, but can never be implemented as we ought for it to be. Therefore, Internet censorship cannot and will not be justified simply because it can be exploited by the government for their own interest, risk of privacy intrusion and also the potential to be an obstacle in the advancement of humanity.

Enforcement on the censorship of internet is very crucial on a country as information of any kind can be easily downloaded and viewed from the internet such as manual on bomb making and even classified documents of the country. In recent cases such as the leaks of confidential documents by WikiLeaks might cause a dangerous loophole that can be exploited and cause grievances and loss of lives in the coming future. As an example, government of China had already enforced censorship to cell phone calls, messages, emails and lastly the access to the internet in order to curb any presence of antigovernment sentiment (New York Times, 2010). This in turn will ensure that the government maintains a strong influence in the country.

Exposure of pornographic materials to minors is a very serious issue that every country is facing now as pornographic materials can be easily obtained with just a click. Around 11% in 34 teenage boys of only 13 years old in Canada admitted exposure of pornographic materials. (Wolak, Mitchell, and Finkelhor, 2006). This statistics had shown that how easy an adult material can be obtained by minors through internet, due to the lacking censorship of internet by the authorities. Adams (2000) stated that viewing of pornographic materials can mentally overwhelms one's ability to control his very own action, thus shaping him/her to become addicted to sex and commit sexual crimes. Hence, internet censorship is very crucial to prevent the situation mentioned above.

Internet censorship, as crucial and important it may be, can never be integrated into the cyber societies in the current generation (Madden, 2010). Opponents may argue that internet censorship is essential in safe guarding the government's interest and protecting their citizens, and to also curb the ever expanding influence of pornographic materials on children. However, internet censorship can also be exploited by the authorities itself for their own interest, such as any anti-Malay sentiments in the country of Malaysia. Internet censorship can be used also as a surveillance tool to intrude the privacy of the users by the authorities to track just about anyone that offended them. No doubt that any form of censorship will indeed be an obstacle in the advancement of humanity as valuable cultures that is not right in the eyes of the authorities can be blocked off or removed.

Internet censorship cannot be justified due to the exploits of the authorities involved in enacting it. In the constitution of Malaysia, Article No.10 states that every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression (Constitution of Malaysia: Part II - Article number: 10, 2011, 5). However, the authorities are taking advantage of the internet censorship to curb off any expressions or any media report that will do harm to the ruling coalition's image. Government had since enacted the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Broadcasting Act 1988, Official Secrets Act 1972, Sedition Act 1948, and Internal Security Act 1960 (ES, 2006) to rule out any contents that is regarded as seditious by the government throughout the internet. One of the cases is the arrest of cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque where he was arrested because the government regarded his art as seditious and offensive. He illustrated contentious issues of the country such as the sodomy charges against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Another case would be the charges against Namewee for stirring up racism under the Sedition Act in which ironically the song is named "F*** Racism. Anyone who propose to reduce or to even demolish the Malay supremacy and Bumiputra equity such as the New Economic Policy in Malaysia can be charged under the Sedion Act (Chua, 2010). Internet censorship is being exploited by the authorities for their very own interest.

Intrusion of privacy can be done if internet censorship is enforced. Information transferred across the internet might be constantly monitored by