Many governments from all over the
world believe in internet censorship therefore block many websites they think
will offend the way they rule their countries. In my opinion, internet
censorship is a good thing for certain countries but a bad thing for other
countries. However, Internet censorship should not be too serious. For example,
it should not be that serious to arrest or kill people who break the rules. It
should give people a little freedom where they can share their perspectives
about the government and how it is governing the country. But a government that
has an internet censorship where they kill and arrest everyone who violates it,
is not a censorship but is a dictatorship.
Ethiopia is an example of a country
where journalists die or get arrested if they say inappropriate things about
the government. “In 1992, Ethiopia issued a Press Proclamation that, in
addition to other restrictions on free expression, gave the government the
ability to shut down publications that printed “false” information. Ethiopia
became one of the leading countries in imprisoning journalists during the 1990s,
trailing only Cuba and China.”[1]
This triggered many journalists to run away for their lives. Some of them even
gave up on their jobs just so they cannot be arrested or killed.
In addition, Ethiopia even increased
internet censorship at the level where people cannot get access to internet.
People have to wait long hours to get internet because internet is only
available in internet coffees where the government controls its speed. It is
even hard to sing in or out emails and you have to wait long time which will
cause you a lot of money. “It is hard to sign in and out of a simple email
window.” [2]
Eskinder Nega is journalist who was arrested for speaking up against
the government. He was a journalist who never wanted to give up on his beliefs.
He wasn't afraid of the police even if they treat him that he will be killed or
arrested. “At some point, they told him that,
you know, they are tired of arresting him. And they said, this time around, we
are not going to arrest you, we are going to kill you. Better stop it. But he
can’t, you know. He can’t stop. That’s him.”[3]
In my opinion, arresting Nega was not fair to him because he was deprived of freedom
of speech. Everyone has the right to speak and share his/her beliefs and the
government doesn't have the right to take it away from people.
Finally, governments have the rights
to make internet laws. However, organizations like ITU take the freedom to rule
their countries away from governments. These organizations make internet rules
for certain countries and block websites they think is inappropriate. The ITU doesn't have the rights to police internet but governments have those rights
because they know what is best and what is not for their countries. However,
governments should not make internet laws that can trigger freedom to vanish.
They should make laws where everyone especially journalists can speak out and
share their diversities.
[1] RAINEY REITMAN: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/11/journalism-not-terrorism-calling-ethiopia-freeeskinder-nega
[2] Eskinder Nega noted in 2011, RAINEY REITMAN:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/11/journalism-not-terrorism-calling-ethiopia-freeeskinder-nega
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