The difference between censorship and regulation and the impact these things have on the internet.

1. Censorship andregulationof the Internet

2. What’s the difference?
Often we get censorship and regulation confused…
Regulation:
This is an official rule, law or order which states whether something may or may not
be done and if so, how something must be done. This rule must be established by a
governing force of law and is closely controlled and monitored. Media must pass
regulation boundaries set by governments before it is published.
Censorship:
This is where media is published and is assessed afterwards. This can come in the form
of the suppression of broadcast material including plays, films, books, newspapers,
letters etc. Often censorship is put in place if there are any complaints regarding
published media.

3. UK Internetcensorship andregulation
Ethics, the sheer size of the internet and the fact that it is a globally distributed
network makes regulating it extremely difficult, however means are put in place to try
to control what is published on the world wide web. The government has put laws in
place to try to regulate the internet’s content, these laws include:
English Defamation Law
This law writes that any published statements which directly accuse individuals of
defaming claims can be taken to court. A defamatory statement is presumed to be
false, unless the defendant can prove its truth.
Copyright Law of the UK
This law monitors the ownership of media products and the accessibility of these
products regarding tangible property rights. In summary, personal work is legally
owned by the producer and can only be distributed by others with their official
permission.
Additionally, the internet is regulated against incitement to terrorism and child
pornography. In 2014, Teresa May proposed the introduction of Extremism Disruption
Orders which would allow judges to ban those who promote extremist messages from
social media and broadcasting.

4. Prosof internetcensorship?
• Society Should Set Limits – the total freedom of speech on the internet would only
resort to cyber bullying and racist commentary.
• Parents Can Not Always Be There To Monitor Children – internet censorship would
give parents the peace of mind to leave their children alone whilst on the internet.
• Censorship Would Control Illegal Activities - if the promotion of illegal activities
were not so readily available then cases of these happenings would decline, less
would be influenced.
• Helps Strengthen National Security – laws against hacking and imposing hefty
punishments towards violators means that the safety of secret intelligence can be
protected.
• Lessens Identity Theft – internet censorship in the form of anti-phishing software
allows the user to be warned when they are about to enter an unsafe and
potentially dangerous website which may steal personal details.

5. consof internetcensorship?
• Removes Freedom Of Expression – although total freedom of expression may be
offensive and emotionally harmful, it is better off within the public eye. If personal
opinion is forced underground, the effects of it may become more damaging. If
people are not given the opportunity to learn the truth, they resort to ignorance.
• Corruption Of The Truth – if the government has the ability to regulate and censor
the media, including the internet, how are we expected to believe anything we
see? Someone in power is unlikely to agree to the publication of that which
highlights their illegal activities.
• Expense – the size of the internet and the fact that it is ever-changing means that
a form of extensive regulation and censorship would be extremely expensive.
• Harmful To Businesses – many businesses rely on the internet to advertise to their
target audience. Banning websites to accessed by those of legal age would harm
the sales and profit of such companies.
• Self Autonomy – Individuals have he right to control their own digestion of the
internet.

6. InternetRegulation
Some argue that the internet shouldn’t be regulated because the people who
regulate it are doing so to increase their own profit and to promote social ideals.
Is the regulation of the internet a way of societal control? Who owns the internet
and how can it be regulated fairly?
All of our internet activity passes through the hands of private corporations who
decide what we can say and see on the internet. For example, in China, the
government actively instructs internet providers and their content hosts to police
their services. Self discipline awards have been awarded to companies which have
most successfully regulated their services to develop a ‘harmonious’ environment.
Large companies tend to regulate their distribution content to benefit their own
profit and reputation rather than on account of ethics and the production of an
equal view of the world. When apple released the App Store in 2008, they
admitted that they would not sell apps which contained ‘unforeseen’ content.
This vague claim meant that Apple are free to regulate their own media as they
see fit, including the distribution of any controversial opinion which may tarnish
their image as a company.