Internet Censorship - Essay Example

However, other promoters of internet freedom has openly opposed internet censorship stating that curtailment of access to some information runs counter to provisions of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States (Qazi), specifically regarding freedom of speech. Initially, one is firmly opposed to internet censorship as an avid promoter of freedom of personal expression and speech. However, the recent online video of Jin Lin, a university student in Montreal, being murdered made one awefully disgusted that someone can use the internet as a stage to fuel selfish interests and the desire for attention.

One thereby discovered that there are websites that specialize in showing viideos of people being killed, tortured or committing suicide. Uncensored sites allow sex offenders and cyber stalkers closer contact to children; these also allow children to research how to hurt themselves or other; and, being exposed to inappropriate online content could have long term negative impact on children. In this regard, the essay aims to contend that internet censorship should be enforced. Government policies and regulations are designed to ensure protection from Internet users from piracy (through Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)), Protect IP Act (PIPA), and illegal electronic activities through the recently proposed Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA).

Some groups aver that SOPA, PIPA and CISPA present arguments that curtain freedom and therefore considered bad. One supports the objectives of these legisltations since these are mainly trying to protect people from losing mone and from being abused. However, despite these regulations, the Internet continues to become a tool for crime, terrorist activities and source of inappropriate materials. The Internet has been the source of pornographic materials which can be easily accessed by children; therefore it should be appropriately censored.

The Top Ten Reviews website featured “Internet Pornography Statistics” which revealed that as much as “90 percent of children ages 8-16 have viewed pornography online” (par. 1). The tabular illustration below provides significant statistics on childen internet pornography, as cited from the Top Ten Reviews: Children Internet Pornography Statistics Average age of first Internet exposure to pornography 11 years old Largest consumer of Internet pornography 35 - 49 age group 15-17 year olds having multiple hard-core exposures 80% 8-16 year olds having viewed porn online 90% (most while doing homework) 7-17 year olds who would freely give out home address 29% 7-17 year olds who would freely give out email address 14% Children's character names linked to thousands of porn links 26 (Including Pokemon & Action \ Man) Source: Top Ten Reviews This information was corroborated by statistics gathered and published by the Enough is Enough, a website funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention that exposed staggerring information on children being intentionally or unintenionally exposed to pornographic, violent and obscene websites and have