scholarly journals Internet Censorship Circumvention Tools: Escaping the Control of the Syrian Regime

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid Al-Saqaf
Keyword(s):  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Authoritarian Regimes ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Information Control ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Media ◽  
Internet Censorship ◽  
Censorship Circumvention ◽  
The Arab Spring

Studies have shown that authoritarian regimes tend to censor the media to limit potential threats to the status quo. While such censorship practices were traditionally aimed at broadcast and print media, the emergence of the Internet and social media in particular, prompted some authoritarian regimes, such as the Assad regime in Syria, to try and exert a similar level of censorship on the Internet as well. During the Arab Spring, the Syrian regime blocked hundreds of websites that provided social networking, news, and other services. Taking Syria as a case study, this paper examines whether Internet censorship succeeded in preventing Internet users from reaching censored online content during 2010−2012. By analyzing the use of Alkasir, a censorship circumvention tool created by the author, the paper provides empirical evidence demonstrating that users were in fact able to bypass censorship and access blocked websites. The findings demonstrate that censorship circumvention tools constituted a threat to the information control systems of authoritarian regimes, highlighting the potential of such tools to promote online freedom of expression in countries where Internet censorship is prevalent.

scholarly journals Internet Censorship in Arab Countries: Religious and Moral Aspects

Religions ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 358
Author(s):  
Alisa Shishkina ◽  
Leonid Issaev
Keyword(s):  
Islamic Law ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
The Internet ◽  
State Control ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
The Media ◽  
Internet Censorship ◽  
Opposition Movements ◽  
Religious Reasons ◽  
The Arab Spring

Internet censorship remains one of the most common methods of state control over the media. Reasons for filtering cyberspace include ensuring the security of the current regime, attempts to limit all kinds of opposition movements, and the protection of the religious and moral norms of society. In Arab countries, where religion plays a major role in the sociopolitical sphere, the latter is particularly important. Since, in Islamic law, there is no direct reference to censorship in practice, governments cause many resources to be filtered under various pretexts. At the same time, as the example of Egypt during the Arab spring shows, moral and religious reasons for filtering the Internet have more grounds than, say, the persecution of opposition leaders.

scholarly journals Identification of Advertising Trends in the Mass Media and On the Internet Used by Modern Terrorism

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (65) ◽  
pp. 382-398
Author(s):  
Mikhail Y. Zelenkov ◽  
Vladimir G. Ponomarev ◽  
Valery V. Gusev ◽  
Anatoly N. Andreev ◽  
Oleg N. Makarov
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
The World ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Mass Media ◽  
The Right

The authors have set themselves the goal of analyzing the mass media and coverage of terrorist attacks on the Internet, to assess their impact on the growing number of terrorists in the world based on this analysis. The methodological basis of this research is represented by the comprehensive approach, which allowed identifying and corroborating the need to restructure the media and the Internet to combat modern terrorism. The epistemological potential of the statistical and sociological methods used within quantitative and qualitative research makes it possible to properly interpret the results of scientific research devoted to the subject of analysis. The results suggest that current activity by the media and Internet users encourages the growth in the number of terrorist acts in the world and improves the efficiency of recruiting newcomers to terrorist organizations. Furthermore, optimal ways of restructuring social media and expanding the scope of control of the operation of the Internet without violating freedom of expression and the right of citizens to free access to information are discussed.

scholarly journals INTERNET CENSORSHIP BY LAW: A CHALLENGE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THAILAND

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jompon Pitaksantayothin
Keyword(s):  
Communication Technology ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Keywords Internet ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Constitutional Right ◽  
Internet Censorship

In Thailand, at present, content on the Internet is subject to a legal regulatory framework. The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) takes a leading role in enforcing the Computer-Related Crime Act 2007 to censor content on the Internet which is deemed ‘illegal’. In this article, it is contended that the legal regulation of Internet content which Thailand adopts is problematic in several aspects. This could pose a serious threat to the constitutional right to freedom of expression of Internet users in Thailand. Keywords: Internet censorship, freedom of expression, Thailand.

icann’s New Generic Top-Level Domain Names Dispute Resolution Procedure Viewed Against the Protection of the Public Interest of the Internet Community: Litigation Regarding Health-Related Strings

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Vezzani
Keyword(s):  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Commercial Arbitration ◽  
Domain Names ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Rules Of Procedure ◽  
Rights Discourse ◽  
The Right ◽  
Human Rights Discourse

icann’s decision to liberalize the market for Internet Generic Top-Level Domain Names has been giving rise to many concerns, related in particular to the registration of health-related strings, which may favour fraud and the dissemination of misleading health information. However, a very sophisticated mechanism has been put into place by icann, intended to prevent the registration of strings which face opposition from a significant portion of the community they purportedly aim to serve, or which are contrary to generally accepted principles related to morality and public order. Tailored after the model of commercial arbitration, icann rules of procedure are noteworthy in that they give standing to all interested Internet users and to an Independent Objector. Though underlining some of its procedural deficiencies, this article emphasizes the importance of the icann mechanism in the “constitutionalization” of the Internet. It also discusses the contribution of icann expert panels to international human rights discourse, as illustrated by the expert panel determinations walking the tightrope between freedom of expression and the right to health.

scholarly journals ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF COMBATING DRUG TRAFFICKING USING THE INTERNET AND WAYS TO SOLVE THEM

2020 ◽  
pp. 32-35
Author(s):  
V.V. Starchenko
Keyword(s):  
Drug Trafficking ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Significant Delay ◽  
Internet Technologies ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Electronic Technologies ◽  
Potential Customers

The relevance of the issue of combating drug trafficking did not begin to decline with the development ofthe Internet and electronic technologies; it would seem that new means of controlling and combating crimeappear. But as it turns out, all new tools appear with a significant delay as a reaction to the development ofmethods of committing a crime. The criminal world is not asleep and is always in search of new means ofcommitting a crime, the development of Internet technologies and the anonymity of Internet users renderconsiderable assistance to this for the criminal community. The openness of our modern society, in termsof the impact on culture and youth, of Western trends, such as the legalization of certain drugs and theirsanctification in the media, creates new consumers and potential customers for criminals organizing drugtrafficking. Which together gives disappointing forecasts, even on the moral development of modern youth.This article describes the current problems of combating drug trafficking using the Internet, the problemof the development of crime in the field of drug trafficking; the statistics of crimes committed in the AltaiTerritory is investigated; suggested ways to solve these problems.

scholarly journals A Study of the Landscape of Internet Censorship and Anti-Censorship in Middle East

10.29007/vpbg ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Rahimi ◽  
Bidyut Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Internet Censorship ◽  
The Right ◽  
Geographical Locations

The power of technology is one which supersedes any other tool of communication ever formulated and implemented by human beings. The internet has been long cited by scholars and practitioners alike to be an empowerment tool that allows individuals to either seek, receive or dole out information and ideas without any basis being drawn on boundaries or geographical locations. This, therefore, means that online communication has to be protected in lieu with the international dictums and pretensions that call for the right to freedom of expression.

scholarly journals Literasi Media Internet di Kalangan Mahasiswa

Humaniora ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 470
Author(s):  
Gracia Rachmi Adiarsi ◽  
Yolanda Stellarosa ◽  
Martha Warta Silaban
Keyword(s):  
Media Literacy ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Private University ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Research Survey ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
The Media ◽  
Media Message

This study aims to find out to what extent the Internet users in line with media literacy. According to Indonesia Internet Service Provider Association (APJII) and BPS Statistic Indonesia, it was found that Internet users in Indonesia have grown since three years ago up to 13% or become 71.19 million people until the end of 2013. According to research survey MarkPlus Insight, “netizen” or Internet users who spend more than three hours per day on Internet. Moreover, they are increasing from 24,2 Million people in 2012 and become 31,7 million people in 2013. This research used qualitative method by gathering the data through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) to private university students who spent for Internet 5 hours per day and less than 5 hours per day. The theory used in this research was media literacy. The result of this research stated that students who accessed the Internet below 5 hours per day were already busy with work and not too intense in using the Internet either via smartphone or a computer. Different findings came up from the students who accessed the Internet over 5 hours per day. Most of the time, they used the Internet for social media and instant messaging (instant messenger) through smartphones. Critical attitude towards the media message depends on the informants’ interest toward the information. 

scholarly journals Issues of terrorism on the internet in the wave of democratization of post-reform Indonesia: A semiotic analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 305
Author(s):  
Aceng Ruhendi Saifullah
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Semiotic Analysis ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Reform Era ◽  
The Media ◽  
Interactive Discourse

The discourse of terrorism is a global issue but tends to be interpreted as controversial. This study sought to dismantle the controversy of meanings through the analysis of signs and meanings, with a view to explore and demonstrate the wave of democratization that took place in post-reform era in Indonesia. This study was a case study using readers’ responses to terrorism issues provided by cyber media on the Internet. It also rests primarily on the semiotic theory of Peirce and the concept of democratization of Huntington. The results showed that participation, freedom of expression, and equal power relations occurred in the interactive discourse in the cyber news media in the form of a dialogue between the responders, the media, and the debate among the responders. Responders tended to argue that signs and meanings are constructed by the media and to interpret information about terrorism as "political engineering" which was expressed by means of emotive tone. Meanwhile, the media tended to construct a "political imagery" which was expressed in a confrontational way, and the resources tended to understand it as "noise level of political elite ", which was expressed in a persuasive manner. Such differences occurred due to the factors of media context that tended to be "convivial" and the context of the communication situation on the Internet that tends to show "discretion". Based on these findings, this study concluded that interactive discourse in the Internet can be formulated as a democratic forum as the meaning making of the text is no longer dominated by media and the sources of information, but tend to be shared with the public. However, in terms of discourse process, interactive discourse in cyber media tends to be anarchic because the tone of interaction tends to be little, the relationship patterns tend to center on and be dominated by responders, the identities of responders tend to be anonymous, and linguistic expressions of the responders tend to be emotive.

scholarly journals Freedom of expression and protection of personal data on the Internet: The perspective of Internet users in Serbia

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (47) ◽  
pp. 5-34
Author(s):  
Marta Mitrović
Keyword(s):  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right

The paper examines the views of Internet users concerning the protection of their rights on the Internet. The Web survey, conducted by the snowball sampling, included 783 Internet users who expressed their views regarding the ways the state (Serbia) and private agents (Facebook and Google) relate to the right of freedom of expression and privacy on the Internet. Also, the survey was used to examine the individual responsibility of users when it comes to the use of Internet services. Several hypotheses suggested that Internet users in Serbia do not have confidence in the country and private actors on the issue of protecting their rights. However, users also do not demonstrate a satisfactory level of individual responsibility. The most important findings indicate that: 1) only one-sixth of the respondents consider that the Government of the Republic of Serbia does not violate the privacy of Internet users; 2) almost half of the respondents do not feel free to express their views criticizing the government; 3) almost 90% of users are not satisfied how Facebook protects their privacy, while it is 1% lower in the case of Google; 4) a third of respondents answered positively to the question whether they had read terms of use of the analyzed companies, but half of them did not give a correct answer to the main questions; 5) only 8.9% of respondents who claimed to have read terms of use are aware of the fact that Facebook shares their data with third parties.

Authoritarianism and the Internet

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (04) ◽  
pp. 1427-1457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Druzin ◽  
Gregory S. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Internet Censorship

This article argues that Internet censorship is more fragile than is generally supposed and is, in fact, vulnerable to abrupt collapse. The volume and rapidity of online communication renders perfect policing of the Internet technologically impossible. Authoritarian governments are thus forced to rely on Internet users to police themselves in the form of self-censorship. This strategy has proven largely successful—legal ambiguity regarding what constitutes impermissible speech fosters norms of self-censorship. This reliance on self-censorship, however, renders these censorial systems susceptible to shocks. We set out a model that explains sudden breakdowns in Internet censorship that we term “cyberspeech cascades.” A cyberspeech cascade occurs when small expressions of online dissent produce large shifts in public perception regarding the acceptable limits of online expression that are, in fact, inaccurate. Online bandwagons of progressively more brazen speech proliferate into large-scale torrents of uncensored expression, triggering the temporary collapse of self-censorship norms online.

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