We all know that certain governments censor what their citizens can read online. This week's article looks at the efforts that have gone into circumventing this censorship. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.
What is your opinion about the use of this software to evade government censorship? Should people be allowed to access any website that they want, regardless of its content or purpose? Under what conditions should a governenment block and filter Internet content? What risks do you see in using this software? What is your reaction to the following quote from the article? "As with George Orwell’s “Newspeak,” the language in “1984” that got smaller each year, governments can block particular words or phrases without users realizing their Internet searches are being censored." Should Congress fund circumvention services?
Net Censors Article
13 comments:
I think it is a great idea to evade the government censorship, because people have to have some freedom to search about whatever they want. People should be able to access any website that they want, regardless or the content. If it had anything to do with terrorism then the government can block and filter it. I see no risks if one saw any website/program. I don’t think the government is being fair with us making us see and believe wrong statements said by other people by deleting or substituting quotes or information.
I find this software very necessary.
In certain countries they block the news, the news is vital for society. How would you really know what’s going on in the world if your government doesn’t let you see. This kind of information shouldn’t be kept from the public and so this software is great.
Well it depends really. If the websites intend is against the government, and it tries to get people against the government then no. But if the website provides the truth about the government the yes. The government should only block websites that provide false information. Risks we might face are that websites that provide false information and lie about politics would be accessed and believed. I find that quote disturbing. People have the right to see what’s happening in the world with out the interference of the government. Yes congress should defiantly fund circumvention.
Noor Mansur.
In my opinion, this idea is great due to its positive results, people should have their own rights including to access websites in general, whatever is the content about. The government should block the access to the internet under certain conditions such as if the government doesn’t want to reveal some of its secrets and mistakes. Although, I don’t see any risks using this software at all. And off course, I would not like to encourage the government to block particular words because this isn't fair at all to make us believe wrong statements, unless this is a violent statement that can hurt the community. Frankly speaking, the congress should not fund circumvention services.
Personally I think that there is nothing wrong with using software to evade government censorship because people should have the right to do whatever they want on the internet. Yes people should have the right to access any website they want, they should be able to do that because people should have freedom to do as they wish. The government should not have to filter any content because it is none of their business, if people want to do something on the internet they should be able to, if the government has a problem they should talk to the creator of the website. The only risk I see is that the government will watch you more closely and see what you do. I think that the guy who said that is being very close minded, as I said before I will say it again people should have the right to do as they please on the internet. No congress should not, it is none of their business.
I do not think that people should be able to evade government censorship because the government knows better than the people for its people. People should be allowed to access any site they want that is not blocked by the government. The government should block and filter internet content under the condition that they do what they see is better for the people of the country. The risks I see in using this software is jail and no one wants to go to jail. I think that the quote is a bit too general and should be more specific. I also believe that if the government is blocking and filtering content without a point they have, only then should the congress fund circumvention services. I do not think that the use of this software is really important because the government knows what it is doing. And it does everything with a point.
Although it sounds illegal in the point of view of the government, I believe if the government restricts the information on the Internet, people have the right to use the software to evade them. In my opinion, the only case where the government should censor websites is when they contain viruses or spy codes. Therefore, in any other cases, regardless of the content of the websites, it should not be censored. Because of my opinion in the liberty of the use of the Internet, I was shocked when I read the quote that states that the internet has been censored without people knowing it. I think this is no different from being stalked by someone else, to be kept in a cage. The Congress never should fund circumvention services, because that will only lead to revolt of the users.
I think that this software is a good idea to evade the governments censorship program, since all people have the right to search the web for whatever they want. I believe that a government should focus on people who search specific things that could threaten a nations peace, but nothing more than that. As I said before, people have all freedom in the world to search the web for any content that they want. For the quote, I find it incorrect on the governments part for censoring out some words or phrases, which we don't even know about. If we want to search for that content then we have the right to view what we want; unless the information could somehow do some major damages to the nation. I don't think that Congress should fund this program.
- If the government violates our freedom to search the net, then I think we have the right to evade government censorship. All websites are for people to see, whether they contain materials that are illegal or against the law. It is the users’ responsibility and duty to determine whether a website is worth looking for. Perhaps, a site that displays information that will work against the society and order can be censored by the government. However, if it is true democracy that people seeks, then people should have a vote for censoring the site. The only risk for using this program will be government’s punishment. The quote provided is absolutely unfair for the people since again, it infringes on people’s right to see what they want, while they have no idea what’s happening. It is fairly reasonable for the Congress to fund circumvention services.
For the most part I think that people should be able to access any part of the web they want, and that the government should selectively sensor websites, much less then what they do today. However I can see how the government would want to censor certain illegal or rebellious websites, but I also believe in freedom of speech. I think that using software to evade government censorship is a bit risky and I would not partake of it but I do admire Shiyu Zhou for creating Falun Gong, and rebelling against his over-zealous government. I just did a project on political correctness, and a large portion of it was dedicated to the horror of Newspeak in "1984", and I have found that the world today is slowing becoming more and more like 1984 especially in language, and this is only further proof of that. I support Falun Gong's cause in fighting the Chinese and Iranian government censorship.
And Congress should not fund circumvention.
Personally, I think that nothing on the Internet should be censored. Governments have an obligation to be honest to their citizens, and not block certain websites. I believe in the right to free speech, and if there is something wrong that people should know about, then let them say what they have to say. That is what the constitution is all about, and censorship is just depriving us of our rights. I don’t think I would use this technology, but I admire Shiyu Zhou for creating Falun Gong, and rebelling against his secretive government. If there is something I need to find out about, I’ll ask people who I know are good with this sort of thing. I think it’s kind of risky to participate in this technology. I do not think congress should fund circumvention.
Governments have the right to censor, the people let them. If people feel that the government is restricting their freedom they must revolt and overthrow their oppressors. Should people be able to access anything? I don’t know. I do know it’s not difficult to find recipes for manufacturing homemade bombs or crystal meth online. Everything is out there and if there are things that put people in danger on the internet, of course it should be censored. It sounds as though the author has never read 1984. Newspeak got smaller every year, but people were aware of it as shown by the formation of The Brotherhood and the main characters rebellion. Congress will do whatever they think is in their best interest. If they release software it would render any of their own censorship useless.
I second Noor, I believe its a great idea to evade government censorship. The government is making choices that effect the people, the community, and they have the right to know exactly what is going on. If the website poses as a threat to anyone at all, then no, it should not be accessed. I say this referring to websites that teach you how to make bombs and stuff, but if it's websites that are going to help you understand a subject better then by all means access away. Under conditions where the government is in fear that if they reveal too much, it may pose a threat to their people e.. Russia finds out something about USA's gov't that gives them reason to start war leading to a war of the worlds!DUM DUM DUM! I don't think its fair that the gov't lie to the people, this is wrong, the people eventually find out from results and then riot. A country should work as a small community no matter how large, lies and deceiving won't ever bring good results no matter how good the lie is. I don't think the congress should fund this, they should just butt out.
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