Ms.Hopkins

Computer Sci Principles

13 September 2018

                                                                Flash Talk

The issue I’ve chosen to research is how censorship affects the Internet’s ability to be “for everyone.” As Vint Cerf argues in his Nine Challenges, the Internet should be free from the government’s supervision to provide everyone freedom of expression, a right that is laid out in the First Amendment. Unfortunately, not all countries have this kind of law protecting their rights, so why communist governments such as the Chinese government can completely control and filter the Internet. 

In the context of censorship, I chose to focus on commercial filtering software and how it affects DNS servers’ ability to relay information to users in an unbiased way. Commercial filtering software is the use of downloadable programs such as Content Watch, OpenDNS, and K9 to regulate what people can access on the Internet. These programs are most often used in workplaces and on home computers, where employers and parents can filter what employees and children see online.

The most positive impact of commercial filtering software is that it keeps offensive content away from the public eye, whether it be adults or children. Inappropriate sites can be blocked in the workplace, so as to keep distraction from work to the minimum. At home, children can be safeguarded from pornographic websites or sites with disturbing or violent images. A benefit for both environments is that it keeps users from clicking on links that download malware and viruses.

The most negative impact is that, if used incorrectly, it can filter political opinions and gives more power to just one person or group, whether that be the people from IT or HR in office buildings, or the government itself. Another negative impact of the filter is that it would blind people of the truth of the government and what they been up too it would silence there words like they have no say in anything If governments continue to choose to exploit their power over the Internet, then the internet won't be for everyone.The major problem with censorship is not censorship at all, just the incorrect use of it.

My overall stance on the position is that the Internet will never belong to everyone as long as censorship is around.People can only see one way, or one aspect of a situation. Governments around the world enslave the minds of their people if they don’t allow them to reach their own opinions on various social and political issues. To be a society privileged with free thought through the Internet's availability to everyone, governments must cooperate with people and reach compromise. Commercial filtering programs can be a great tool -- if used correctly. If governments continue to choose to exploit their power over the Internet, the Internet will never be for everyone.