Censorship: what is it and how is it used?

Censorship has been in the news a lot and in our daily conversations. Conversations about censorship by social media as well as by individuals who police their social media pages by not allowing certain posts and particularly comments. Who has the right to censor another? Social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, have been under fire for censoring content posted on their sites. What is censorship? What are legal definitions? What are the pros and cons of censorship in this age of growing internet dependance for news and information? Censorship is an important topic to discuss, outlining the pros and cons, and consider both sides of the argument. As this is a complex and in-depth topic, I will give an overview and highlights to avoid overwhelming anyone with too many details.

Censorship is the suppression of words or images that are considered offensive or dangerous and is using carried out by the government, private individuals or groups or personal pressure groups. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional (ACLU). When private individuals or groups censor, it can be in the form of organized boycotts and is protected by the First Amendment. For example, a school board decides on a list of books to remove from their libraries and curriculum. There are two principles when considering censorship. First, content neutrality is when the government cannot limit expression just because a listener or even a majority in the community is offended by its content (ACLU). Essentially, if you are offended by a tv show or movie, then you have the right to change the channel, just as someone else has the right to watch if they choose. Second, direct or imminent harm is expression that may be restricted only if it will clearly cause direct and imminent harm to an important societal interest (ACLU). The most famous example is yelling “fire” in a crowded theater and causing a stampede and harm to others. A more modern example would be someone directly incites or threatens violence on social media sites (Etzioni, 2019). For example, Craigslist took down certain classified pages after it was determined to contribute to sexual violence.

Not all speech is protected the First Amendment and subject to censorship. First, obscenity. Obscenity has been legally defined by the Supreme Court decision in Miller v California (1973) as 1) appeal to the average person’s prurient (shameful or morbid) interest in sex, 2) depict sexual conduct in a “patently offensive way” as defined by community standards and 3) taken as a whole, a lack of serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value (ACLU). This is why some books such as John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath (1939) can be banned in certain communities and not in others. Another standard set in Federal Communication Commission v Pacifica (1978) is the indecent expression in which the government can require radio and tv stations to air “indecent material only during those hours when children are less likely to be listening or watching. (ACLU). Second, pornography is protected by the First Amendment unless it meets the definition of obscene. Child pornography is not protected under the First Amendment. Lastly, libel and slander. Libel is a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation. Slander is the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation. For example, someone publishes a statement that another person is a bigamist when he or she is not. Slander is like spreading a rumor to harm someone’s chances for a promotion.

Internet censorship is the control of information that can be viewed on the internet. In the US, internet censorship is the least censored, (China being the strictest), it is highly regulated that many people self-censor (Poether, 2019). Many people distrust social media sites when it comes to censorship or removal of information. According to a Pew Research report, 85% of Republicans and Republican leaning-independents believe it is likely that social media sites are intentionally censoring political viewpoints, while 54% believe it is very likely (Etzioni, 2019). What are the pros to internet censorship? Ms. Poether (2019) discusses a few pros and cons. First, to limit content that no one wants or should see. For example, the Momo Challenge was a hoax that spread through the internet, causing concern for parents. Second, stopping fake news. Fake news is the false information that is presented as real news. Unfortunately, the speed in which news is brought to people through tv and phones, it is hard to distinguish fake news from the real news. Third, to stop access to harmful activities such as cyberbullying, sextortion, and predation. For every pro, there is a con. First, if information is too restricted, real information can be censored along with the fake. Second, who is in charge? Who decides what gets blocked and what doesn’t? Who decides the rules? Third, censoring free speech. Internet censorship limits want you can access was well as what you can post.

In conclusion, censorship is essentially “Don’t let anyone read this book, watch that tv show or view that film, because I object to it.” It is a very touchy subject that has no real clear-cut definition or rules. What is one man’s obscene art is another’s masterpiece? What one person considers to be fake news may be another’s real news? How to we tell the difference? Fact checking and research is a start. According to Vera Eidelman of the ACLU, “Defenders of free speech don’t think the power to censor should be in the hands of the tech companies” (Etzioni, 2019). I think tech companies want to make sure their users are safe and enjoy time spent on their sites; however, their own biases can come into play when deciding which information can be posted and viewed. The question of censorship doesn’t have an easy answer, but it is a question we need to discuss.

 

 

References

American Civil Liberties Union (no date). What is Censorship? ACLU.org. www.aclu.org/other/what-censorship. Retrieved October 4, 2020.

Etzioni, Amitai (Fall 2019). Should We Privatize Censorship? Issues. www.issues.org/should-we-privatize-censorship/. Retrieved October 9, 2020.

Poether, Bridget (November 18, 2019). How Internet Censorship Affects You (+Pros & Cons). Learning Hub. www.learn.g2.com/internet-censorship. Retrieved October 9, 2020.