What is Censorship?

Guys, you do know what is censorship? Censorship is the control of the information and ideas circulated within a society. Censorship can be achieved through the examination of books, plays, films, television and radio programs, news reports and other forms of communication for the purpose of altering or suppressing ideas found to be objectionable or offensive.

The rationale for censorship have varied, with some censors targeting material deemed to be indecent or obscene; heretical or blasphemous; or seditious or treasonous. Therefore, ideas have been suppressed under the guise of protecting three basic social institutions which are the family, the church and the state.

Censorship is divided into a few categories and they are:
1. Moral
2. Military
3. Political
4. Religious
5. Corporate

On a different level, the actions and reactions of large corporations to the Internet has to be factored into any discussion of economic censorship. Some firms have paid search engine companies for preferential placement in particular subject categories when a user submits an online search inquiry. Is the information tainted because someone has paid for it to be "found," or should the standard be that so long as all responsive information is displayed to the user, placement is irrelevant?

Some governments have used a powerful array of techniques and arguments to marshal support for their censorship efforts in order to protect the national security. The curious reader is urged to read far and wide in the classic texts to see that the problem of governments and citizens reacting in this way is not a new one. What is new are the potential global consequences.

In the next post, we would explain more further on the types of censorship. Stay tuned.

Source: http://bit.ly/dz39cK