A discussion on the presence of censorship even in contemporary society.
This paper explores the subject of censorship as a recurring institution or set of practices and points out that citizens may not fully realize the impact of censorship in society. The paper considers the Internet and its potential contribution made to freedom of the press, freedom of information, or freedom of expression, but shows how censorship for some is an everyday and genuine reality. The paper notes that the results of censorship are usually conservative, or ultra-conservative, in that they help to direct attention away from what is considered subversive or otherwise threatening to a state or society, and censorship is also used to promote economic aims.
“As much as we may believe that there is freedom of access to information in Canada, or in another democratic society, this belief is not particularly well grounded, and censorship of different kinds is bound to be at work. The rise of the mass media and electronic communications are sometimes said to help people to be informed by their greater ability to obtain information. Actually, the Internet, for example, may present a range of different kinds of censorship and related persuasion, along with information to show the existence of other censorship or propaganda that is not otherwise known or criticized. Others may refer to constitutional freedoms or in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The latter are referred to by Bill Orme as, “a fine piece of aspirational rhetoric”, and one which signatory governments have never though of as binding. (1998, 16) Censorship has its impact on public respect or support for political rights. However, as Orme points out, citizens may not fully realize the place of censorship in spite of the existence of rights.”