Thanks to the internet, information is more accessible than ever before in human history. However, the free flow of information is not equal the globe over. Some countries restrict certain topics from being accessed by their citizens - anything from explicit content to information about politics, news, and individual free speech.
This is dangerous, because while this is an age where many are concerned about misinformation, it can be equally damaging to have truth withheld. In the absence of freedom of speech, citizens lose access to both sides of an issue. As a result, ignorance can prevail and may lead to average citizens being misled.
A contemporary example is Russia's state propaganda and censorship of news that paints Russia in a poor light during the present invasion of Ukraine. As a result, while there are some protests in Moscow, there are many uninformed citizens that do not have access to a second opinion outside of Russia's “illegitimate state of Ukraine” rhetoric. The presence of propaganda, suppression of free speech, and restriction of internet content make for a very nationalistic, uninformed, and malleable populace.
Cyber censorship is a common tactic used by authoritarian governments like Russia. Some of today's greatest offenders include North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, and Belarus. The internet censorship of many of these countries has deep roots in a desire to suppress anti-government protests or cultural influences abroad. Beyond restricting certain independent news sites, social media sites are often blocked as well. This is because of how rapidly information can spread and how difficult these sites are to control.
Advocating for internet freedom means embracing the 'good' with the 'bad'. For instance, Elon Musk, a self declared “Free Speech Absolutist” has been aiding the Ukrainians by providing Starlink terminals to ensure internet access during the conflict. Despite calls from neighboring countries for Musk to censor Russian news sites, he has remained firm in his refusal to restrict information – harmful or not – in the name of free speech. This hardline stance on cyber restriction ensures that all sides of an issue, propaganda and facts alike, are available for the reader to come to their own conclusions.
As the world is watching the Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to unfold, lets remember the many things that have contributed to this occurring so that we can try to prevent future conflict. Today on World Day Against Cyber Censorship, we have the opportunity to learn the importance of internet freedom and how it facilitates the free exchange of information, promotes constructive dialogue, and makes the world more interconnected - bringing us all together as one just a little more.