Information Censorship in the Digital Era

Information Censorship in the Digital Era

   The digital era disguises as a period with certain rights to information and expression. However, different government regimes are employing technology to perpetrate information censorship against the masses by confusing them through disinformation and information overload. Their actions camouflage as a control against propaganda when it is an approach to limit their level of transparency.  Freedom of speech in the internet era has invited information censorship from authorities, which not only denies individual rights to information access but also increases the risk of fabrication due inability to distinguish noise from reality.

Censorship affects individual judgment on issues. First, it is impossible to distinguish facts from fiction or even trace an idea to its source for proper analysis.  Consequently, citizens are unable to hold their leaders responsible for specific predicaments emanating from their actions.  Despite the various ways in which freedom of expression affects an individual’s political perspective, it also affects the people on a personal level. For instance, I have experienced bullying and trolls from other internet users executing their freedom of speech besides encountering indecent materials.  Therefore, freedom of expression over the internet blurs individual perspectives on issues their moral fabric..

I agree with Pomerantsev’s argument that misinformation is a punishment for free expression from the leaders. Most regimes are opposed to transparency and information distortion is an alternative to cover their malice and preserve government secrets in the digital era.  Autocratic governments exercise controls to prevent a leak of undesirable information to the masses, which is a challenge in democratic states characterized by massive activism on freedom of speech and expression. Besides, governments can enact regulations against publicizing false information. However, such laws would inhibit their power to distort information at will.

References

CBC Radio. (2019, September 10). World leaders enact ‘censorship through the noise’ in the digital era, CBC Radio.