Internet Censorship - Research PaperBy Lyle Tamlyn (43669182)Across the world there has been an increase in discussions regarding "Internet censorship", explain how censorship may work in some cases, but in others it may harm society. According to Amnesty International (2014), Internet censorship is the control and removal of online information or services by the government or other stakeholder institutions. It is applied by monitoring chat rooms and forums, removing blogs, blocking websites and redirecting search results. Around the world, debate on the issue has intensified in recent times, fueled by arguments asserting its value and violation of freedom. In certain circumstances, censorship can work to the individual's advantage, protecting them from online theft, cyberbullying and harassment, while ensuring that dangerous or offensive content is not accessible. Additionally, in dangerous political circumstances, censorship can help mitigate terrorism and foreign aggression. It can also help businesses and the artistic community, helping to protect copyright and intellectual property. However, these security benefits come at the cost of civil liberty and can be abused to make censorship a societal harm. Censorship can limit basic human rights, create ignorant and intellectually starved societies, and in some cases give governments absolute political control. Theft protection demonstrates that Internet censorship can benefit society in certain areas. Through electronic media, individual users can be targeted by criminals seeking to steal their finances or identity. Information technology is particularly vulnerable when it ...... middle of paper ...... king, while ensuring that criminals operating child pornography rings do not have access to their markets. Furthermore, the spread of dangerous ideologies and hate speech could be stopped, thereby strengthening national security and maintaining a peaceful and respectful society. Intellectual property protection could also be implemented to help protect businesses, such as the recording industry. However, these security benefits may come at the expense of freedom. Countries like China have been able to abuse censorship methods to limit basic human rights, end freedom of expression, and create a situation of total political control, where the population is isolated from the rest of the world. In summary, censorship can indeed benefit society, but must be carefully regulated and balanced against basic human freedoms to ensure that it does not become a harm to society.: 2638