Is censorship a boon to the evolving world?

By Anisha Sehgal

The world is evolving at a fast pace, making the need for the internet quintessential. The last few years have seen a drastic change in the use of the internet, which has evolved manifold. The accessibility and use of the internet have started a new era of knowledge sharing and the ability to connect billions of people around the globe. Perhaps, it opens a plethora of information that offers an endless pool of knowledge and entertainment.

However, internet has its drawbacks and limitations. Today, access to the internet has broken all boundaries, where anyone from any age group can access the internet, even over a mobile phone. This has caused a lot of disruption among the younger generation, as they are able to open sensitive and adult content that is not meant for them. However, it’s important to acknowledge that censorship can also limit our freedom of expression. If we don’t have the freedom to speak our minds, we won’t be able to express our opinions about harmful practices. This could result in power being concentrated in the hands of a few individuals, who may then block any honest criticism.

In simple terms, censorship can have both positive and negative effects. While it can protect young people from harmful content, it can also restrict our freedom to express ourselves and speak out against wrongdoings.

While we understand and respect the freedom of speech and expression, there is a strong need to take this forward in a controlled environment. On the other hand, we cannot neglect the fact that every day, we hear about online frauds where bank details are being accessed, and money from the account is transferred without us even knowing about it. All this happens because of the continuous use of the internet, browsing unauthenticated websites, downloading unsecured information, as well as uploading personal information on various sites. All of this can be put to an end by allowing and supporting the guidelines and policies set by the government for internet censorship.

Lastly, one fact that is often not discussed in our society is that the global effort to restrict information from individuals will cost close to $100 billion. Since it is the government that imposes these stipulations, who do you think will bear the burden of this cost? It will be the taxpayers’ money that will be used to cover the cost of this unwarranted expense. That means all of us end up paying for our ability to let other people control the data we see without really having a way to alter the outcome.

In the end, remember that this is a high time that we realise and find the perfect and appropriate side for ourselves, to decide whether we are willing to share our privacy with many of those who are ready to abuse and misuse it or believe that meaningful change can also be achieved through open conversations, rather than censoring content creation.