Dead Internet Theory and Censors

I had recently got a side gig, adjusting the SEO, so some of the time you do not even get the websites content, but is redirected in search engines to Wikipedia or some other very biased source.

Dead internet theory is the belief that governments are using technology and tools for censorship to unplug the internet and political dissent, and that this could lead to the "death of the internet". This theory is of growing concern, given the number of countries that are actively censoring content and limiting user access.

In recent years, the number of countries implementing some form of internet censorship has increased significantly. According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, over 70 countries actively employ surveillance and filtering tools to regulate online speech. China has been a leader in this type of censorship, using their so-called "Great Firewall" to limit or block access to certain websites and material deemed to be politically or socially sensitive.

Similarly, recent research from a team at Harvard University has found that countries like Iran, China and Saudi Arabia have been using a range of techniques to actively interfere with and limit access to the internet. For example, these countries have been found to use “throttling” techniques, which cause online sites and services to run slowly or even shutdown, as a way of preventing access or sharing of content deemed disfavourable.

Furthermore, another form of censorship that has been identified by scholars is “keyword censorship”, which is when certain words and phrases are automatically censored from user-generated content. This type of censorship has been shown to target issues that are considered sensitive by the political authorities, such as human rights violations and corruption. Keyword censorship also has a chilling effect that can lead to self-censorship, where people fear for their safety if they are seen to be discussing certain issues.

Overall, the evidence points to a disturbing trend where governments are actively suppressing access to the internet and controlling user-generated content. This form of censorship not only impinges on our right to freedom and expression, but also has the potential to lead to the death of the internet if it is allowed to continue unchecked. These findings suggest that urgent action must be taken to ensure that the internet remains a safe and open space for users all over the world.

References:

1. United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression (2019). World Report on Freedom of Expression 2019/2020.

2. Hasadi, P. et al (2019). Network Censorship in Iran. Harvard Policy Group Working Paper.

3. Esfandiari, G. (2016). Keyword Censorship in the Iranian Blogosphere. International Journal of Communication.