English III Essays
Essay I
Vincent Schafer
English 3
3 June, 2013
Internet Censorship
Since the Internet was born in 1958 it has become a valuable tool in everyday life. In modern society the Internet can benefit people in so many ways, yet there are still governments and leaders that fear the power and influence of the Internet. The Internet gives people access to information and ideas that some people would rather keep private. The Internet provides people all over the world with tools to create however, many governments and companies are censoring the Internet for their personal gain. When the Internet was first created it was intended as a tool not a weapon. Censoring the Internet should be illegal because it restricts freedom and innovation amongst intelligent people all over the world.
The oldest and best example of internet censorship is China. Since 2001 China has put a very strong firewall in place to censor the information available to its citizens. Any information regarding government practices and foreign matters is censored as well as many creative thinking websites such as Reddit. Reddit connects people all over the globe while serving as a hub for new information and creative ideas (“What is Reddit?”). The Chinese government’s main argument for keeping the “great firewall” in place is that it protects their small business market from large outside companies (Bao). This claim is true, but at what cost? China is in desperate need of new ideas and innovative thinking if they want to compete in a global market. The “great firewall” is the largest obstacle that these small businesses and entrepreneurs face. The Internet censorship in China does not only restrict information on the Internet, but also slows internet speed significantly. For many small business owners and entrepreneurs this is a serious roadblock. Meng Xianglin, and owner of an app development firm in China said, “We couldn’t even open an e-mail or document after waiting 20 minutes” (Bao 3). If the information necessary for a task is being delivered slowly it is easy to lose focus and lose the drive to pursue something new. Internet regulations in China impact its ability to compete economically with international companies and other countries (Bao). Creativity and innovation require information. In China the amount of information is very low due to strict Internet censorship policies. There are many other countries that use Internet censorship and when compared to countries that do not have Internet censorship these counties have very few new inventions and ideas. Great companies and ideas come from countries with unrestricted Internet access.
There are many companies that are born out of the Internet and need the Internet to function. One of those organizations is Craigslist. Craigslist was started by Craig Newmark in 1995 as a distribution list to inform about events in San Francisco (“Craigslist”). Initially, it was only available to his friends, but as it began to grow he expanded the website turning it into a global database of classified advertisements (“Craigslist”). This company was founded during a time when the internet was fairly new and there was little restriction, but in recent years, all over the world small new companies are in trouble. Internet censorship severely hinders the amount of knowledge and ideas that can travel across the Internet. Craigslist is a company that makes many people’s lives much easier by allowing them access to services and giving them a place to showcase their own objects and services to the public (“Craigslist”). This is only one example of a very helpful and successful company that began with the help of the Internet. Internet censorship in China already stops innovation like this from happening (Bao). Internet censorship needs to stop to allow a space for free thinking and new ideas.
Large Internet service providers have been censoring their Internet for years. They use selective broadcasting to regulate what information goes out at a certain time. Information that may harm the ISP may be slowed or stopped whereas information that has no connection is given priority and put into a sort of “fast lane”. This practice has been used by many ISP’s and it keeps valuable information from the people that it services . ISP’s use their influence to control information during elections and important votes. In Canada an ISP blocked access to a web page run by its striking workers to keep its customers ignorant to their corrupt corporate agenda (Quain). When information is kept from citizens in cases such as these, there can be disastrous consequences. If information cannot flow freely many people can be negatively affected. In such a media dependant society it is essential that people have access to all information to make educated and informed decisions regarding their future and the good of those around them. Johnathan Zittrain of Internet Governance at Oxford said, “Tens of millions of machines in consumer hands are hooked up to networks” (Clemmitt 427). With so many devices it is sad that people do not have complete access to the Internet. The biggest problem in America at the moment is that the people are not educated about what is happening around them. People need complete access to all information so that they can educate themselves. No information should be prioritized, it should all be treated equally and with the same level of importance.
Internet censorship has caused many problems all over the world. Many of these problems have arisen because of the lack of information and secrets being kept from the people. It is a daunting thought that many lives could have been saved if information was able to flow freely over the Internet. The most recent and controversial event having to do with information being withheld was the Benghazi coverup. This attack carried out by religious extremists on American diplomats killed four high ranking diplomatic officers in the US diplomatic mission in Lybia (Ryan). The original story from the US intelligence observation was that it began after a series of protests. In the weeks that followed it became very clear that the Obama administration was not very cooperative with the ambassador and CIA (Ryan). They were denied increased protection that could have helped to protect them from the extremist attack. These American lives were lost because the information regarding increased protection for the ambassadors in Lybia was released after the attack. Many argue that they could have been saved if the information was made available to the public to keep the government accountable for its actions (Ryan). The news and information is what keeps the government in check and keeps their actions just. There needs to be a free flow of information unrestricted by governments and ISP regulations.
Internet censorship does not only restrict growth and new ideas, but it violates one of the building blocks of American society, the right to free speech. David Insenberg of the center for Internet and society said, “Freedom of internet communication is fundamental to freedom of speech” (Clemmitt 412). The internet allows people to publish their ideas and learn about the ideas of other people. The Internet is not a completely safe place, like with any mixing pot of ideas and cultures, there are some things that many people would rather not look at or read about. It should be left to the discretion of individuals as to what they choose to use the Internet for and while some will use it for evil there are many who will use it to create great things. If the government starts to strictly restrict what people are allowed to see and publish on the Internet they would be violating an important principle of American society, the right to free speech.
There will always be governments that want to control their people, but it is not the role of the government to censor the internet. The Internet is a endless database of knowledge that can help everyone. For many of us we use the internet every single day. We use it for current events, social networking, and so much more. The Internet should be treated at a tool that connects ideas and information around the world. So many companies and people depend on the internet that it is a crime to restrict their freedom and access to information across the Internet.
English 3
3 June, 2013
Internet Censorship
Since the Internet was born in 1958 it has become a valuable tool in everyday life. In modern society the Internet can benefit people in so many ways, yet there are still governments and leaders that fear the power and influence of the Internet. The Internet gives people access to information and ideas that some people would rather keep private. The Internet provides people all over the world with tools to create however, many governments and companies are censoring the Internet for their personal gain. When the Internet was first created it was intended as a tool not a weapon. Censoring the Internet should be illegal because it restricts freedom and innovation amongst intelligent people all over the world.
The oldest and best example of internet censorship is China. Since 2001 China has put a very strong firewall in place to censor the information available to its citizens. Any information regarding government practices and foreign matters is censored as well as many creative thinking websites such as Reddit. Reddit connects people all over the globe while serving as a hub for new information and creative ideas (“What is Reddit?”). The Chinese government’s main argument for keeping the “great firewall” in place is that it protects their small business market from large outside companies (Bao). This claim is true, but at what cost? China is in desperate need of new ideas and innovative thinking if they want to compete in a global market. The “great firewall” is the largest obstacle that these small businesses and entrepreneurs face. The Internet censorship in China does not only restrict information on the Internet, but also slows internet speed significantly. For many small business owners and entrepreneurs this is a serious roadblock. Meng Xianglin, and owner of an app development firm in China said, “We couldn’t even open an e-mail or document after waiting 20 minutes” (Bao 3). If the information necessary for a task is being delivered slowly it is easy to lose focus and lose the drive to pursue something new. Internet regulations in China impact its ability to compete economically with international companies and other countries (Bao). Creativity and innovation require information. In China the amount of information is very low due to strict Internet censorship policies. There are many other countries that use Internet censorship and when compared to countries that do not have Internet censorship these counties have very few new inventions and ideas. Great companies and ideas come from countries with unrestricted Internet access.
There are many companies that are born out of the Internet and need the Internet to function. One of those organizations is Craigslist. Craigslist was started by Craig Newmark in 1995 as a distribution list to inform about events in San Francisco (“Craigslist”). Initially, it was only available to his friends, but as it began to grow he expanded the website turning it into a global database of classified advertisements (“Craigslist”). This company was founded during a time when the internet was fairly new and there was little restriction, but in recent years, all over the world small new companies are in trouble. Internet censorship severely hinders the amount of knowledge and ideas that can travel across the Internet. Craigslist is a company that makes many people’s lives much easier by allowing them access to services and giving them a place to showcase their own objects and services to the public (“Craigslist”). This is only one example of a very helpful and successful company that began with the help of the Internet. Internet censorship in China already stops innovation like this from happening (Bao). Internet censorship needs to stop to allow a space for free thinking and new ideas.
Large Internet service providers have been censoring their Internet for years. They use selective broadcasting to regulate what information goes out at a certain time. Information that may harm the ISP may be slowed or stopped whereas information that has no connection is given priority and put into a sort of “fast lane”. This practice has been used by many ISP’s and it keeps valuable information from the people that it services . ISP’s use their influence to control information during elections and important votes. In Canada an ISP blocked access to a web page run by its striking workers to keep its customers ignorant to their corrupt corporate agenda (Quain). When information is kept from citizens in cases such as these, there can be disastrous consequences. If information cannot flow freely many people can be negatively affected. In such a media dependant society it is essential that people have access to all information to make educated and informed decisions regarding their future and the good of those around them. Johnathan Zittrain of Internet Governance at Oxford said, “Tens of millions of machines in consumer hands are hooked up to networks” (Clemmitt 427). With so many devices it is sad that people do not have complete access to the Internet. The biggest problem in America at the moment is that the people are not educated about what is happening around them. People need complete access to all information so that they can educate themselves. No information should be prioritized, it should all be treated equally and with the same level of importance.
Internet censorship has caused many problems all over the world. Many of these problems have arisen because of the lack of information and secrets being kept from the people. It is a daunting thought that many lives could have been saved if information was able to flow freely over the Internet. The most recent and controversial event having to do with information being withheld was the Benghazi coverup. This attack carried out by religious extremists on American diplomats killed four high ranking diplomatic officers in the US diplomatic mission in Lybia (Ryan). The original story from the US intelligence observation was that it began after a series of protests. In the weeks that followed it became very clear that the Obama administration was not very cooperative with the ambassador and CIA (Ryan). They were denied increased protection that could have helped to protect them from the extremist attack. These American lives were lost because the information regarding increased protection for the ambassadors in Lybia was released after the attack. Many argue that they could have been saved if the information was made available to the public to keep the government accountable for its actions (Ryan). The news and information is what keeps the government in check and keeps their actions just. There needs to be a free flow of information unrestricted by governments and ISP regulations.
Internet censorship does not only restrict growth and new ideas, but it violates one of the building blocks of American society, the right to free speech. David Insenberg of the center for Internet and society said, “Freedom of internet communication is fundamental to freedom of speech” (Clemmitt 412). The internet allows people to publish their ideas and learn about the ideas of other people. The Internet is not a completely safe place, like with any mixing pot of ideas and cultures, there are some things that many people would rather not look at or read about. It should be left to the discretion of individuals as to what they choose to use the Internet for and while some will use it for evil there are many who will use it to create great things. If the government starts to strictly restrict what people are allowed to see and publish on the Internet they would be violating an important principle of American society, the right to free speech.
There will always be governments that want to control their people, but it is not the role of the government to censor the internet. The Internet is a endless database of knowledge that can help everyone. For many of us we use the internet every single day. We use it for current events, social networking, and so much more. The Internet should be treated at a tool that connects ideas and information around the world. So many companies and people depend on the internet that it is a crime to restrict their freedom and access to information across the Internet.
Essay I Reflection
This was the first essay that I had written in a very long time. It was difficult for me to get back into the rhythm and remember the format. I had a very long time to write this essay and i used every minute of it. I had difficulty including examples and making the essay flow. I did not do as much research as i could have and I wish I had spent more time finding examples.
Essay II
Vincent Schafer
English 3
3 June, 2013
Internet Censorship
Since the Internet was born in 1958 it has become a valuable tool in everyday life. In modern society the Internet can benefit people in so many ways, yet there are still governments and leaders that fear the power and influence of the Internet. The Internet gives people access to information and ideas that some people would rather keep private. The Internet provides people all over the world with tools to create however, many governments and companies are censoring the Internet for their personal gain. When the Internet was first created it was intended as a tool not a weapon. Censoring the Internet should be illegal because it restricts freedom and innovation amongst intelligent people all over the world.
The oldest and best example of internet censorship is China. Since 2001 China has put a very strong firewall in place to censor the information available to its citizens. Any information regarding government practices and foreign matters is censored as well as many creative thinking websites such as Reddit. Reddit connects people all over the globe while serving as a hub for new information and creative ideas (“What is Reddit?”). The Chinese government’s main argument for keeping the “great firewall” in place is that it protects their small business market from large outside companies (Bao). This claim is true, but at what cost? China is in desperate need of new ideas and innovative thinking if they want to compete in a global market. The “great firewall” is the largest obstacle that these small businesses and entrepreneurs face. The Internet censorship in China does not only restrict information on the Internet, but also slows internet speed significantly. For many small business owners and entrepreneurs this is a serious roadblock. Meng Xianglin, and owner of an app development firm in China said, “We couldn’t even open an e-mail or document after waiting 20 minutes” (Bao 3). If the information necessary for a task is being delivered slowly it is easy to lose focus and lose the drive to pursue something new. Internet regulations in China impact its ability to compete economically with international companies and other countries (Bao). Creativity and innovation require information. In China the amount of information is very low due to strict Internet censorship policies. There are many other countries that use Internet censorship and when compared to countries that do not have Internet censorship these counties have very few new inventions and ideas. Great companies and ideas come from countries with unrestricted Internet access.
There are many companies that are born out of the Internet and need the Internet to function. One of those organizations is Craigslist. Craigslist was started by Craig Newmark in 1995 as a distribution list to inform about events in San Francisco (“Craigslist”). Initially, it was only available to his friends, but as it began to grow he expanded the website turning it into a global database of classified advertisements (“Craigslist”). This company was founded during a time when the internet was fairly new and there was little restriction, but in recent years, all over the world small new companies are in trouble. Internet censorship severely hinders the amount of knowledge and ideas that can travel across the Internet. Craigslist is a company that makes many people’s lives much easier by allowing them access to services and giving them a place to showcase their own objects and services to the public (“Craigslist”). This is only one example of a very helpful and successful company that began with the help of the Internet. Internet censorship in China already stops innovation like this from happening (Bao). Internet censorship needs to stop to allow a space for free thinking and new ideas.
Large Internet service providers have been censoring their Internet for years. They use selective broadcasting to regulate what information goes out at a certain time. Information that may harm the ISP may be slowed or stopped whereas information that has no connection is given priority and put into a sort of “fast lane”. This practice has been used by many ISP’s and it keeps valuable information from the people that it services . ISP’s use their influence to control information during elections and important votes. In Canada an ISP blocked access to a web page run by its striking workers to keep its customers ignorant to their corrupt corporate agenda (Quain). When information is kept from citizens in cases such as these, there can be disastrous consequences. If information cannot flow freely many people can be negatively affected. In such a media dependant society it is essential that people have access to all information to make educated and informed decisions regarding their future and the good of those around them. Johnathan Zittrain of Internet Governance at Oxford said, “Tens of millions of machines in consumer hands are hooked up to networks” (Clemmitt 427). With so many devices it is sad that people do not have complete access to the Internet. The biggest problem in America at the moment is that the people are not educated about what is happening around them. People need complete access to all information so that they can educate themselves. No information should be prioritized, it should all be treated equally and with the same level of importance.
Internet censorship has caused many problems all over the world. Many of these problems have arisen because of the lack of information and secrets being kept from the people. It is a daunting thought that many lives could have been saved if information was able to flow freely over the Internet. The most recent and controversial event having to do with information being withheld was the Benghazi coverup. This attack carried out by religious extremists on American diplomats killed four high ranking diplomatic officers in the US diplomatic mission in Lybia (Ryan). The original story from the US intelligence observation was that it began after a series of protests. In the weeks that followed it became very clear that the Obama administration was not very cooperative with the ambassador and CIA (Ryan). They were denied increased protection that could have helped to protect them from the extremist attack. These American lives were lost because the information regarding increased protection for the ambassadors in Lybia was released after the attack. Many argue that they could have been saved if the information was made available to the public to keep the government accountable for its actions (Ryan). The news and information is what keeps the government in check and keeps their actions just. There needs to be a free flow of information unrestricted by governments and ISP regulations.
Internet censorship does not only restrict growth and new ideas, but it violates one of the building blocks of American society, the right to free speech. David Insenberg of the center for Internet and society said, “Freedom of internet communication is fundamental to freedom of speech” (Clemmitt 412). The internet allows people to publish their ideas and learn about the ideas of other people. The Internet is not a completely safe place, like with any mixing pot of ideas and cultures, there are some things that many people would rather not look at or read about. It should be left to the discretion of individuals as to what they choose to use the Internet for and while some will use it for evil there are many who will use it to create great things. If the government starts to strictly restrict what people are allowed to see and publish on the Internet they would be violating an important principle of American society, the right to free speech.
There will always be governments that want to control their people, but it is not the role of the government to censor the internet. The Internet is a endless database of knowledge that can help everyone. For many of us we use the internet every single day. We use it for current events, social networking, and so much more. The Internet should be treated at a tool that connects ideas and information around the world. So many companies and people depend on the internet that it is a crime to restrict their freedom and access to information across the Internet.
English 3
3 June, 2013
Internet Censorship
Since the Internet was born in 1958 it has become a valuable tool in everyday life. In modern society the Internet can benefit people in so many ways, yet there are still governments and leaders that fear the power and influence of the Internet. The Internet gives people access to information and ideas that some people would rather keep private. The Internet provides people all over the world with tools to create however, many governments and companies are censoring the Internet for their personal gain. When the Internet was first created it was intended as a tool not a weapon. Censoring the Internet should be illegal because it restricts freedom and innovation amongst intelligent people all over the world.
The oldest and best example of internet censorship is China. Since 2001 China has put a very strong firewall in place to censor the information available to its citizens. Any information regarding government practices and foreign matters is censored as well as many creative thinking websites such as Reddit. Reddit connects people all over the globe while serving as a hub for new information and creative ideas (“What is Reddit?”). The Chinese government’s main argument for keeping the “great firewall” in place is that it protects their small business market from large outside companies (Bao). This claim is true, but at what cost? China is in desperate need of new ideas and innovative thinking if they want to compete in a global market. The “great firewall” is the largest obstacle that these small businesses and entrepreneurs face. The Internet censorship in China does not only restrict information on the Internet, but also slows internet speed significantly. For many small business owners and entrepreneurs this is a serious roadblock. Meng Xianglin, and owner of an app development firm in China said, “We couldn’t even open an e-mail or document after waiting 20 minutes” (Bao 3). If the information necessary for a task is being delivered slowly it is easy to lose focus and lose the drive to pursue something new. Internet regulations in China impact its ability to compete economically with international companies and other countries (Bao). Creativity and innovation require information. In China the amount of information is very low due to strict Internet censorship policies. There are many other countries that use Internet censorship and when compared to countries that do not have Internet censorship these counties have very few new inventions and ideas. Great companies and ideas come from countries with unrestricted Internet access.
There are many companies that are born out of the Internet and need the Internet to function. One of those organizations is Craigslist. Craigslist was started by Craig Newmark in 1995 as a distribution list to inform about events in San Francisco (“Craigslist”). Initially, it was only available to his friends, but as it began to grow he expanded the website turning it into a global database of classified advertisements (“Craigslist”). This company was founded during a time when the internet was fairly new and there was little restriction, but in recent years, all over the world small new companies are in trouble. Internet censorship severely hinders the amount of knowledge and ideas that can travel across the Internet. Craigslist is a company that makes many people’s lives much easier by allowing them access to services and giving them a place to showcase their own objects and services to the public (“Craigslist”). This is only one example of a very helpful and successful company that began with the help of the Internet. Internet censorship in China already stops innovation like this from happening (Bao). Internet censorship needs to stop to allow a space for free thinking and new ideas.
Large Internet service providers have been censoring their Internet for years. They use selective broadcasting to regulate what information goes out at a certain time. Information that may harm the ISP may be slowed or stopped whereas information that has no connection is given priority and put into a sort of “fast lane”. This practice has been used by many ISP’s and it keeps valuable information from the people that it services . ISP’s use their influence to control information during elections and important votes. In Canada an ISP blocked access to a web page run by its striking workers to keep its customers ignorant to their corrupt corporate agenda (Quain). When information is kept from citizens in cases such as these, there can be disastrous consequences. If information cannot flow freely many people can be negatively affected. In such a media dependant society it is essential that people have access to all information to make educated and informed decisions regarding their future and the good of those around them. Johnathan Zittrain of Internet Governance at Oxford said, “Tens of millions of machines in consumer hands are hooked up to networks” (Clemmitt 427). With so many devices it is sad that people do not have complete access to the Internet. The biggest problem in America at the moment is that the people are not educated about what is happening around them. People need complete access to all information so that they can educate themselves. No information should be prioritized, it should all be treated equally and with the same level of importance.
Internet censorship has caused many problems all over the world. Many of these problems have arisen because of the lack of information and secrets being kept from the people. It is a daunting thought that many lives could have been saved if information was able to flow freely over the Internet. The most recent and controversial event having to do with information being withheld was the Benghazi coverup. This attack carried out by religious extremists on American diplomats killed four high ranking diplomatic officers in the US diplomatic mission in Lybia (Ryan). The original story from the US intelligence observation was that it began after a series of protests. In the weeks that followed it became very clear that the Obama administration was not very cooperative with the ambassador and CIA (Ryan). They were denied increased protection that could have helped to protect them from the extremist attack. These American lives were lost because the information regarding increased protection for the ambassadors in Lybia was released after the attack. Many argue that they could have been saved if the information was made available to the public to keep the government accountable for its actions (Ryan). The news and information is what keeps the government in check and keeps their actions just. There needs to be a free flow of information unrestricted by governments and ISP regulations.
Internet censorship does not only restrict growth and new ideas, but it violates one of the building blocks of American society, the right to free speech. David Insenberg of the center for Internet and society said, “Freedom of internet communication is fundamental to freedom of speech” (Clemmitt 412). The internet allows people to publish their ideas and learn about the ideas of other people. The Internet is not a completely safe place, like with any mixing pot of ideas and cultures, there are some things that many people would rather not look at or read about. It should be left to the discretion of individuals as to what they choose to use the Internet for and while some will use it for evil there are many who will use it to create great things. If the government starts to strictly restrict what people are allowed to see and publish on the Internet they would be violating an important principle of American society, the right to free speech.
There will always be governments that want to control their people, but it is not the role of the government to censor the internet. The Internet is a endless database of knowledge that can help everyone. For many of us we use the internet every single day. We use it for current events, social networking, and so much more. The Internet should be treated at a tool that connects ideas and information around the world. So many companies and people depend on the internet that it is a crime to restrict their freedom and access to information across the Internet.
Revised Essay II
Vincent Schafer
English 3
3 June, 2013
Internet Censorship
Bill Gates former CEO and founder of the technology giant Microsoft once said, “The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” (1) Since the Internet was born in 1958 it has become a valuable tool in everyday life. In modern society the Internet can benefit people in so many ways, but how can it become the “town square for the global village of tomorrow” when there still governments and leaders that censor the Internet. (6) The Internet gives people access to information and ideas, but the biggest use of the internet is to provide people all over the world with tools to be creative and innovative (6) , however (10) many governments and companies are censoring the Internet for their personal gain. When the Internet was first created it was intended as a tool not a weapon. Censoring the Internet should be illegal because it restricts freedom and innovation amongst intelligent people all over the world. (2)
The oldest and best example of internet censorship is China. Since 2001 China has put a very strong firewall in place to censor the information available to its citizens. Any information regarding government practices and foreign matters is censored as well as many creative thinking websites such as Reddit. Reddit connects people all over the globe while serving as a hub for new information and creative ideas (“What is Reddit?”). The Chinese government’s main argument for keeping the “great firewall” in place is that it protects their small business market from large outside companies (Bao). This claim is true, but at what cost? China is in desperate need of new ideas and innovative thinking if they want to compete in a global market. The “great firewall” is the largest obstacle that these small businesses and entrepreneurs face. The Internet censorship in China not (10) only restricts (10) information on the Internet, but also slows internet speed significantly. For many small business owners and entrepreneurs this is a serious roadblock. Meng Xianglin, and owner of an app development firm in China said, “We couldn’t even open an e-mail or document after waiting 20 minutes” (Bao 3). If the information necessary for a task is being delivered slowly it is easy to lose focus and lose the drive to pursue something new. New ideas are what start new companies and businesses that in turn help to improve economic growth. Internet regulations in China impact its ability to compete economically with larger international companies and other countries (Bao). (4) Creativity and innovation require information, but in (10) China the amount of information is very low due to strict Internet censorship policies. There are many other countries that use Internet censorship and when compared to countries that do not have Internet censorship these counties have very few new inventions and ideas. Great companies and ideas come from countries with unrestricted Internet access.
There are many companies that are born out of the Internet and need the Internet to function. One of those organizations is Craigslist. Craigslist was started by Craig Newmark in 1995 as a distribution list to inform about events in San Francisco (“Craigslist”). Initially, it was only available to his friends, but as it began to grow he expanded the website turning it into a global database of classified advertisements (“Craigslist”). This company was founded during a time when the internet was fairly new and there was little restriction, but in recent years, all over the world new small companies (10) are in trouble. Internet censorship severely hinders the amount of knowledge and ideas that can travel across the Internet. Craigslist is a company that makes many people’s lives much easier by allowing them access to services and giving them a place to showcase their own objects and services to the public (“Craigslist”). This is only one example of a very helpful and successful company that began with the help of the Internet, sadly innovation like this is shut down by Internet censorship in China and other countries with extreme Internet censorship policies (Bao). (4) Internet censorship needs to stop to allow a space for free thinking and new ideas.
Governments are not the only offenders of Internet censorship, in the US Large Internet service providers have been censoring their Internet services for years. (4) They use selective broadcasting to regulate what information goes out at a certain time. Information that may harm the ISP may be slowed or stopped whereas information that has no connection is given priority and put into a sort of “fast lane.” (10) This practice has been used by many ISP’s and it keeps valuable information from the people that it serves. (10) ISP’s use their influence to control specific information. In Canada an ISP blocked access to a web page run by its striking workers to keep its customers ignorant to their corrupt corporate agenda (Quain). (5) When information is kept from citizens in cases such as these, there can be negative (6) consequences. In such a media dependant society it is essential that people have access to all information to make educated and informed decisions regarding their future and the good of those around them. With so many people accessing the internet on their smart phones and other devices it should be easier for them to get information. Johnathan Zittrain of Internet Governance at Oxford said, “Tens of millions of machines in consumer hands are hooked up to networks” (Clemmitt 427). (9) However even with so many devices it is sad that people do not have complete access to the Internet. (6) The biggest problem in America at the moment is that the people are not educated about what is happening around them. People need complete access to all information so that they can educate themselves. No information should be prioritized; it should all be treated equally and with the same level of importance.
In the US there are many freedoms that we as Americans are entitled to in the constitution, however recently a government agent has shown the public how much freedom we really have. (4) Edward Snowden, a former CIA technical assistant leaked confidential files from inside the NSA about their surveillance techniques and capabilities. Working for the CIA and NSA Edward could see firsthand how they violated freedom and privacy on the internet. Edward said he released the confidential documents because, “I can’t in good conscience allow the US government to destroy privacy, Internet freedom, and basic liberties for people around the world” (Greenwald, MacAskill, and Poitras 2). (9) There were several times when Edward thought about disclosing the secrets of government surveillance and censorship, but decided against it because he did not want to harm innocent people. He also hoped that the 2008 elections would bring about a change in the policies that he despised, but when the Obama administration began to support them he started gathering the incriminating documents. The documents included confidential information relating to phone calls and internet searches as well as personal information gathered from social networking sites Finally last week Edward released the documents to the public and showed just how extensive the database of knowledge that the US government has access to is (Greenwald, MacAskill, and Poitras). (6) This leak shows the American people that we are not as free as we thought and that we are no longer entitled to some of the rights promised in the constitution. (4)
Internet censorship not (10) only restricts (10) growth and new ideas, but it violates one of the building blocks of American society, the right to free speech. David Insenberg of the center for Internet and society said, “Freedom of internet communication is fundamental to freedom of speech” (Clemmitt 412). The internet allows people to publish their ideas and discuss them with other people all over the world, and in turn learn about other cultures and opinions. (6) The Internet is not a completely safe place, like with any mixing pot of ideas and cultures, there are some things that many people would rather not look at or read about. It should be left to the discretion of individuals as to what they choose to use the Internet for, and (10) while some will use it for evil there are many who will use it to create great things. If the government starts to implement strict internet censorship policies and restrict what people are allowed to see and publish on the Internet they would be violating an important constitutional right of every American, the right to free speech. (6)
There will always be governments that want to control their people, but it is not the role of the government to censor the internet. The Internet is an endless database of knowledge that can help everyone. Many of us use the internet every single day, for current events, social networking, and so much more. (10) The Internet should be treated at a tool that connects ideas and information around the world, not a weapon. There are so many companies and people depend on the internet that it should be a crime to restrict their freedom and access to information across the Internet. The Internet is what connects the world and the people in it. (11)
English 3
3 June, 2013
Internet Censorship
Bill Gates former CEO and founder of the technology giant Microsoft once said, “The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” (1) Since the Internet was born in 1958 it has become a valuable tool in everyday life. In modern society the Internet can benefit people in so many ways, but how can it become the “town square for the global village of tomorrow” when there still governments and leaders that censor the Internet. (6) The Internet gives people access to information and ideas, but the biggest use of the internet is to provide people all over the world with tools to be creative and innovative (6) , however (10) many governments and companies are censoring the Internet for their personal gain. When the Internet was first created it was intended as a tool not a weapon. Censoring the Internet should be illegal because it restricts freedom and innovation amongst intelligent people all over the world. (2)
The oldest and best example of internet censorship is China. Since 2001 China has put a very strong firewall in place to censor the information available to its citizens. Any information regarding government practices and foreign matters is censored as well as many creative thinking websites such as Reddit. Reddit connects people all over the globe while serving as a hub for new information and creative ideas (“What is Reddit?”). The Chinese government’s main argument for keeping the “great firewall” in place is that it protects their small business market from large outside companies (Bao). This claim is true, but at what cost? China is in desperate need of new ideas and innovative thinking if they want to compete in a global market. The “great firewall” is the largest obstacle that these small businesses and entrepreneurs face. The Internet censorship in China not (10) only restricts (10) information on the Internet, but also slows internet speed significantly. For many small business owners and entrepreneurs this is a serious roadblock. Meng Xianglin, and owner of an app development firm in China said, “We couldn’t even open an e-mail or document after waiting 20 minutes” (Bao 3). If the information necessary for a task is being delivered slowly it is easy to lose focus and lose the drive to pursue something new. New ideas are what start new companies and businesses that in turn help to improve economic growth. Internet regulations in China impact its ability to compete economically with larger international companies and other countries (Bao). (4) Creativity and innovation require information, but in (10) China the amount of information is very low due to strict Internet censorship policies. There are many other countries that use Internet censorship and when compared to countries that do not have Internet censorship these counties have very few new inventions and ideas. Great companies and ideas come from countries with unrestricted Internet access.
There are many companies that are born out of the Internet and need the Internet to function. One of those organizations is Craigslist. Craigslist was started by Craig Newmark in 1995 as a distribution list to inform about events in San Francisco (“Craigslist”). Initially, it was only available to his friends, but as it began to grow he expanded the website turning it into a global database of classified advertisements (“Craigslist”). This company was founded during a time when the internet was fairly new and there was little restriction, but in recent years, all over the world new small companies (10) are in trouble. Internet censorship severely hinders the amount of knowledge and ideas that can travel across the Internet. Craigslist is a company that makes many people’s lives much easier by allowing them access to services and giving them a place to showcase their own objects and services to the public (“Craigslist”). This is only one example of a very helpful and successful company that began with the help of the Internet, sadly innovation like this is shut down by Internet censorship in China and other countries with extreme Internet censorship policies (Bao). (4) Internet censorship needs to stop to allow a space for free thinking and new ideas.
Governments are not the only offenders of Internet censorship, in the US Large Internet service providers have been censoring their Internet services for years. (4) They use selective broadcasting to regulate what information goes out at a certain time. Information that may harm the ISP may be slowed or stopped whereas information that has no connection is given priority and put into a sort of “fast lane.” (10) This practice has been used by many ISP’s and it keeps valuable information from the people that it serves. (10) ISP’s use their influence to control specific information. In Canada an ISP blocked access to a web page run by its striking workers to keep its customers ignorant to their corrupt corporate agenda (Quain). (5) When information is kept from citizens in cases such as these, there can be negative (6) consequences. In such a media dependant society it is essential that people have access to all information to make educated and informed decisions regarding their future and the good of those around them. With so many people accessing the internet on their smart phones and other devices it should be easier for them to get information. Johnathan Zittrain of Internet Governance at Oxford said, “Tens of millions of machines in consumer hands are hooked up to networks” (Clemmitt 427). (9) However even with so many devices it is sad that people do not have complete access to the Internet. (6) The biggest problem in America at the moment is that the people are not educated about what is happening around them. People need complete access to all information so that they can educate themselves. No information should be prioritized; it should all be treated equally and with the same level of importance.
In the US there are many freedoms that we as Americans are entitled to in the constitution, however recently a government agent has shown the public how much freedom we really have. (4) Edward Snowden, a former CIA technical assistant leaked confidential files from inside the NSA about their surveillance techniques and capabilities. Working for the CIA and NSA Edward could see firsthand how they violated freedom and privacy on the internet. Edward said he released the confidential documents because, “I can’t in good conscience allow the US government to destroy privacy, Internet freedom, and basic liberties for people around the world” (Greenwald, MacAskill, and Poitras 2). (9) There were several times when Edward thought about disclosing the secrets of government surveillance and censorship, but decided against it because he did not want to harm innocent people. He also hoped that the 2008 elections would bring about a change in the policies that he despised, but when the Obama administration began to support them he started gathering the incriminating documents. The documents included confidential information relating to phone calls and internet searches as well as personal information gathered from social networking sites Finally last week Edward released the documents to the public and showed just how extensive the database of knowledge that the US government has access to is (Greenwald, MacAskill, and Poitras). (6) This leak shows the American people that we are not as free as we thought and that we are no longer entitled to some of the rights promised in the constitution. (4)
Internet censorship not (10) only restricts (10) growth and new ideas, but it violates one of the building blocks of American society, the right to free speech. David Insenberg of the center for Internet and society said, “Freedom of internet communication is fundamental to freedom of speech” (Clemmitt 412). The internet allows people to publish their ideas and discuss them with other people all over the world, and in turn learn about other cultures and opinions. (6) The Internet is not a completely safe place, like with any mixing pot of ideas and cultures, there are some things that many people would rather not look at or read about. It should be left to the discretion of individuals as to what they choose to use the Internet for, and (10) while some will use it for evil there are many who will use it to create great things. If the government starts to implement strict internet censorship policies and restrict what people are allowed to see and publish on the Internet they would be violating an important constitutional right of every American, the right to free speech. (6)
There will always be governments that want to control their people, but it is not the role of the government to censor the internet. The Internet is an endless database of knowledge that can help everyone. Many of us use the internet every single day, for current events, social networking, and so much more. (10) The Internet should be treated at a tool that connects ideas and information around the world, not a weapon. There are so many companies and people depend on the internet that it should be a crime to restrict their freedom and access to information across the Internet. The Internet is what connects the world and the people in it. (11)