Media censorship can take various forms such as withholding or banning information to maintain social stability. While censorship aims to filter out unnecessary information, some argue it limits freedom of speech and transparency. Countries differ in what content they censor such as pornography, hate speech, and political discourse. Proponents of censorship believe it prevents harm, while critics argue it infringes on civil liberties. There are no simple answers around the complex issue of balancing open information with social order.

1. Media CensorshipBy Aili, Synge, Laura & Andre

2. Censored?Purpose:filter out unnecessary and misleading informationMethods: withholding information or banning information, etc.E.g.: Ancient ChinaAim: maintain the society stability

3. Not Censored?Why Not? Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Expression No Government Transparency Intrudes into People’s PrivacyImpossible for new media

4. Media Censorship Is Needed

5. What Has Been Censored?PornographyIssues Promoting Hatred of Ethnic and Religious GroupsPolitical Content

6. Pornography

7. PornographyPartially Censored: Holland, US, Japan, etc.Strictly Censored: Asian CountriesChina:1996: Chinese authorities legislate against pornography on the Internet (State Council Order No. 195 1 February 1996)1997: Pornography is also prohibited under Article 5 of the Computer Information Network and Internet Security, Protection and Management Regulations (December 1997)2000: Article 57 if the Telecommunications Regulations Of The People’s Republic Of China (25 September 2000) and the Measure For Managing The Internet Information Service (25 September 2000)India: Under the Indian Information Technology Act 2000, Chapter XI Para 67, the government of India also declared electronic publication of pornography an offence.

8. PornographyThe rate of sexual offences in countries with less censorship on pornography is much higher than those in the other countries.

9. PornographyChild Pornography is strictly censored worldwideKids need a porn-free environment for their healthy growth

10. Issues Promoting Hatred of Ethnic and Religious Groups

11. Issues Promoting Hatred of Ethnic and Religious GroupsUS: Last year, there is a yearlong black race riot in Oakland, the United States. The story was reported around the world, yet people get nothing from the media in the United States, whether on newspapers, TV or radio broadcasters, even on Internet. According to BBC, the US government censored everything about the riot to prevent larger maybe nation-wide riot.

12. Issues Promoting Hatred of Ethnic and Religious GroupsAustralia: In September 2002, a website in Australia was ordered by the Federal Court to remove material that casts doubt on whether the Holocaust occurred. Judge Catherine Branson ruled that Dr. Toben vilified Jewish Australians when her published documents that cast doubt over the Holocaust on the Adelaide Institute site.

13. Political Content

14. Political ContentCensorship of political content is strong in one party countries, mostly Asia.After September 11, western countries start tightening their censorship on political contents.

15. No No No...No Media Censorship

17. World Without Censorship?ProtestRiotTerrorist Attack

18. AgainstFreedomofSpeechAn important part democracy“The principle of free speech is not concerned with the content of a man’s speech and does not protect only the expression of good ideas, but all ideas.” —Ayn Rand

19. An ExampleAustraliaInternet Filtering SystemACMA blacklist – 506 websites are legal to watch

20. GovernmentTransparencyWikileaks – United States Embassy cablesJulian Assange on TED(7:15-8:23)

21. Government Transparency (cont.)“Unsuitable content” – politicians’ own failuresHow good and how bad

22. Intrudesinto people’s privacyCensorship as an excuse2005 Chinese government Vs. Shi Tao

23. Singapore

24. 3 Tiers of Censorship1sttier – Parliament legislation

25. 2nd tier – Government bodies

26. 3rd tier – Self-censorship“The emergence in this election of social-networking sites on the internet as a focus for opposition politicking changed the tone of the campaign. Even the docile mainstream media were forced to devote more coverage to the opposition, lest readers forsake them for the newer outlets.”—— The Economist

27. Online presence infographichttp://sgpartyti.me/