Internet Censorship Incidents Review in October
Incidents of Internet Censorship have seen a steady rise in 2020, not only in countries with authoritarian governments at the helm, but even in supposedly liberal nations with progressive governments.
In this article, we will walk you through the major incidents of Internet censorship that have made waves in the month of October.
1. Thailand Shuts Down Dissenting Media Channel
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand obtained a court order to close down Voice TV on all online platforms. Voice TV is a Thai television channel, notable for its liberal stance and political-centric analysis. The ministry alleged that the manner in which the station had covered a democracy protest in Bangkok on 16th October had violated media restrictions under State sanctioned laws.
Before the station’s online platforms were shut down, the Thai authorities had instructed satellite service providers to block the broadcast of Voice TV. The government of Thailand has also cited similar reasons and ordered the shutdown of three other online media services — The Reporters, The Standard, and Prachatai.
Since the military coup of 2014, when Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha came to power, the government has been targeting media platforms through censorship and sanctions, with special attention reserved for Voice TV. There have been large scale pro-democracy protests in the country since 18th July, with the protesters calling for the resignation of the government, the drafting of a new constitution, and an end to the harassment forced upon peaceful protestors.
In the past, Thai authorities have routinely enforced censorship to gag public opinion on human rights and political reform. Dissidents claim that the banning of Voice TV’s online channel is the Thai government’s latest attempt to stop the reporting about democracy protests and the ensuing abuses against the protesters.
2. Instagram’s Selective Censorship Bias
Instagram has seen its name dragged into controversies time and again, over selectively censoring content on its platform. Last month, it was the turn of Australian comedian Celeste Barber to face the wrath of Instagram’s selective censoring techniques. She had posted parody images on her official handle, imitating a post from former Victoria’s Secret model Candice Swanepoel.
While both photos revealed the exact same body parts in each photograph, Instagram didn’t allow users to share Barber’s post, claiming that it went against their community guidelines on nudity or sexual activity. On the other hand, Swanepoel’s post was shared multiple times by her followers!
Now this might seem to be a trivial glitch to some, but it brings into sharp focus a problem that marginalised communities have been facing for years. Instagram’s algorithm is biased towards athletic, white, and cis-gendered people when it comes to censoring content on their platform.
It’s unfortunate that a content sharing platform as popular as Instagram, which potentially has the power of shaping public opinion, is dictating what the type of content that would be visible to its consumers. Apart from the censoring algorithm, there are 15,000 employees on Instagram’s payroll, routinely reviewing posts in order to weed out prohibited content. Some protestors have even referred to Instagram’s policy as “prejudicial and clearly racially motivated censoring”.
3. China Gags Mobile Internet Browsers Censors
China’s top cyber authority has announced that it will carry out a “rectification” of Chinese mobile internet browsers, in order to address what it claims to be social concerns over the “chaos” of information being published online.
The campaign will initially focus on eight of the most influential mobile browsers in China, including those operated by Huawei Technologies, Alibaba Group Holding’s UCWeb, Xiaomi Corp, Tencent, Qihoo-owned 360, Oppo and Sogou.
China is no stranger when it comes to internet censorship. In this latest crackdown, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has told firms operating mobile browsers that they have to conduct a “self-examination” and rectify the problems within 9th November.
CAC claim that the problems they are targeting include the spreading of rumours, the use of sensationalist headlines, and the publishing of content that violates the core values of socialism. If mobile browsers still have any outstanding problems after the stipulated period, then they will be dealt with strictly according to laws and regulations. In an extreme case, the businesses which do not toe the official line might even be banned from operating on Chinese land.
4. ISPs in India Censoring Internet Content
Jio and Airtel, two of the largest Internet Service Providers (ISP) in India, have been blocking websites accessible to users through the use of what are known as ‘middleboxes’. These are specially configured routers, which are used to block targeted websites by censoring or reverting data requests.
Researchers from the Centre for Internet and Society, a non-profit organisation that conducts interdisciplinary research on internet and digital technologies, have traced 25 middleboxes to Airtel. They have also confirmed that both Airtel and Jio have been blocking sites through Server Name Indication (SNI).
The Department of Telecommunication decides which websites are prohibited; however, as these orders aren’t publicly available, there is no way of confirming which websites are ordered to be blocked. Airtel and Jio together command over 75% of all internet users in India. Such opaque and arbitrary censorship means that three quarters of the internet users can only access data that is conditioned by Airtel and Jio’s practices.
With the Government of India already displaying its disregard towards non-conforming opinions, it is now feared that the use of blocking methods by just 2 of the ISPs would make it possible for the Indian government to erect its own version of the ‘Great Firewall of India’.
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