'Minecraft' Library Helps You Dodge News Media Censorship

There are a myriad of ways to evade censorship of the press but it's becoming more difficult when countries like China and Russia are cracking down on VPNs and other similar tools. Reporters Without Borders thinks it can solve those increasing challenges: make news accessible in a way that's rarely blocked. The team has collaborated with BlockWorks and MediaMonks on the Uncensored Library, a Minecraft map that includes news articles from journalists and websites whose work is frequently censored for its unflattering truths. Articles from Jamal Khashoggi, a murdered journalist from Saudi Arabia, Hatice Cengiz supports this project, Grani.ru, an activist-friendly Russian website and Mada Masr (an Egyptian anti-corruption outlet) as well as others.

You can also find out more about the current state of press freedom in 180 countries.

The library is a technical achievement in its own. It's a huge neoclassical museum, with specific country wings and huge collection of books. You can't tear the library apart however, you can expand it if you have the time and desire.

Reporters Without Borders believes the Uncensored Library should be relatively resilient. Email Anyone can download the map, and Minecraft's nature allows it to host a different server in case an oppressive country attempts to shut one down. We don't expect this to be lasting for a long time, however. Countries with draconian censorship measures aren't likely to think twice about banning Minecraft outright -- this may be a temporary respite.

But that's not the whole point. This is also a satire on the issue of censorship, as well as a way to inform people who would not be thinking about the subject. If it inspires a few Minecraft players to advocate for freedom of the press or pursue investigative journalism as a profession the game will have fulfilled its goal.