Censorship of New Media?

The Internet has always been seen as an avenue for free speech for all citizens of the world. However, a number of countries have already either implemented censorship or are pushing for the latter to be placed as a law.

An article entitled 'The Effect of New Media Censorship on the World - NMI White Paper' which was featured in New Media Institute on the 27th of July 2009, reported on a variety of countries which restrict freedom of expression and how such censorship and regulations laws might effect the censorship of new media on a global scale.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. However, in a significant number of countries these rules do not apply.

According to BBC News (2009), Facebook has been blocked by the Iranian Government in time for the Presidential Elections. The reason being that supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi is using the utility to better the candidate's position in the elections. First of all, even if the Iranian people were to use Facebook as a facet for supporting the candidate, there is no plausible reason for banning the site. This shows that the Iranian government is boycotting the candidate even though his rival is able to own a Facebook profile. The people are not able to exercise their basic human rights.

Censorship of this sort is highly unreasonable and must be taken into consideration as the people need the opportunity to use the new media for beneficial reasons. I personally believe that the this is not ethical at all and this regulation should change. If I am able to exercise my rights and decide for my own whether or not Facebook is beneficial or not, the people of Iran should be able to do the same.

Reference List:

1. BBC News, 2009, Tehran Blocks Access to Facebook, viewed 17th of November 2009, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8065578.stm>
2. Eber-Schmid, N 2009, The Effect of New Media Censorship on the World, NMI White Papers, viewed 17th of November 2009, <http://www.newmedia.org/articles/the-effect-of-new-media-censorship-on-the-world---nmi-white-paper.html>.
3. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 2009, Article 19, United Nations, viewed 17th of November 2009,  <http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:slALRfFBlLwJ:www.aspire-irl.org/UN_Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights.pdf+universal+declaration+of+human+rights+pdf&hl=en&gl=my&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESh2FFaINHsgy2mzTLyjp9DkxMza4niXbbQHiZi_eyNe-LGrdaV_sNQVd5jEdZAgncflyV_JLlV9BfmDMhUT0UWwz_t94u-TiZIhTsC7LGCxHvyZzN-Ah8hG6sxd0-jYzD6BCmT9&sig=AHIEtbTeCcbqwMmQSK5tcXqb_K_gRX3Ckg>.