In 20th centuries, figure of net citizen is turning fast around the World. Survey conducted by Internet Usage Statistics shows that over 25 per centum of universe population are internet users [ 11 ] . Because of the cyberspace popularising tendency, the importance of Internet censoring has besides risen. As a consequence, I believe that the Internet should be regulated by the Governments.
This article is traveling to discourse chiefly three countries. They are societal, economical and political. Researching the advantages and disadvantages on implementing ordinance on the Internet, by reexamining current state of affairss between United States, China and Hong Kong, what ordinance have been done on the Internet. I picked Hong Kong as my studied country, as it is my living topographic point, it is necessary to be concerned. While Hong Kong is put to deathing “ One Country Two System ” , my fatherland China, transporting out one system merely, is besides reviewed in this article. United States, which is claimed to be a exemplary state of advocate people ‘s freedom, is chosen for comparing as a function of foreign state. There would be different facets and results of modulating the Internet within these three states. Followed by, my ground on back uping “ Government should modulate the Internet ” .
First, I am traveling to discourse societal issue. Public wellness is one ground back uping ordinance on the Internet. Nowadays, many erotica sites can be accessed easy by merely snaping “ I ‘m above 18. ” . Children would acquire sex and harmful information from these sites easy without parent counsel. Therefore, Internet control has become of import to protect kids. In United States, Communications Decency Act ( CDA ) , established in 1996, regulates on violative and lewdness content [ 23 ] . For Hong Kong, there is besides jurisprudence for obscene and force control. It is called “ Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance ” ( Chapter 390 ) [ 14 ] . Harmonizing to South Sina News ( 2007 ) , a Hong Kong netizen, Mr. Woo, was sentenced as he published obscene links on the Internet [ 13 ] . When comparison to Chinese Government, they merely have some understandings on Internet control, there is no a concrete jurisprudence that the cyberspace censoring should follows. Thus, cyberspace censoring in China is chiefly held by filtrating systems, or firewall. A common blocking system in China would be Green Dam Youth Escort ( Green Dam ) [ 20 ] . It is designed to filtrate illegal contents. Start from May, 2009, the package is required to pre-install in personal computing machines produced by China. The system protects kids from force and erotica.
Problem of cyber-bullying is besides one factor impacting public wellness. It causes psychological injury to netizens. In America, Megan Taylor Meier was committed suicide because a friend ‘s female parent, Lori Drew. She humiliated Megan. Drew created a male history named “ Josh Evans ” , and bully Megan on the Internet. After probe, Lori Drew was caught. This is non the lone instance that would do psychological injury. In Hong Kong, net citizens would post individual ‘s informations on the cyberspace when they think the individual is misconducted. Privacy like phone Numberss, reference, working topographic point, etc. , is exposed. Daily lives of many victims are severely affected. They are afraid to be recognized outside place. Tsui Yu Hin [ 5 ] is one of victims in Hong Kong. He was insulted by netizens forcing his pregnant girlfriend down lift. Netizens setup a facebook group faulting his misbehaviour. This matter was disrupting Tsui ‘s life, he kept having upseting phone calls. Cyber-bullying would do victims more depression, negative impact on working or academic public presentation, utmost violent behaviour such as slaying or committed self-destruction.
To forestall cyber-bullying, American has established the “ Megan Meier Cyber-bullying Prevention Act ” , this is one of the first cyber-bullying Torahs that protects kids and grownups from disturbs. This is a instance that demoing netizens are needed to take effects for what they have done on the cyberspace. I believe it is a good manner to buoy up the job of cyber-bullying. Chinese and Hong Kong Government should follow the actions taken of U.S.
Second, the economic system issue is discussed. Foreign-invested endeavor, such as Google, Yahoo, Facebook, etc. , that are widely-used, has possible to beef up the links between states and planetary economic system. Businesss such as nomadic phones linking Google, are being popular. Besides, companies can derive from having the right of first publication. Protecting right of first publication would assist supplying a just competition environment. As a consequence, Governments set up Torahs to impeach conflicting on Copyrights presently, including movie industry, music industry, etc. , chiefly related to creativeness. One jurisprudence in United States, Anti-cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act ( ACPA ) of 1999, [ 21 ] , pass the enrollment of sphere names with hallmarks. Though Hong Kong does non hold same jurisprudence, there is another possible jurisprudence for protecting rights of hallmark proprietors. The Intellectual Property Department [ 7 ] is set up to manage right of first publication, designs, personal rational belongingss and hallmarks. Rules correlated to Trade Marks Ordinance, Patents Ordinance, and Personal Data ( Privacy ) Regulation are introduced to protect creativeness and equilibrate the involvement of the right proprietors and society. CHAN Nai Ming, a Hong Kong citizen, was jailed as he uploaded Hollywood movies onto the Internet, while it is go againsting the right of first publication. While in China, there is besides copyright register on the web site of National Copyright Administration of the People ‘s Republic of China [ 12 ] . It is clear that modulating cyberspace by the Government could be good to economic system factor.
Last, political issue is discussed. Sensitive contents, chiefly related to faith and political relations, are normally filtered. In United States, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) was introduced on May 18, 1977. [ 22 ] . It limits foreign authoritiess, groups, or persons ( e.g. undercover agents ) , that would do international terrorist act, and onslaughts. It prevents citizens to execute illegal activities. In China, filtering is required for protecting citizen from misconduct contents. MySpace China is one of the samples applied filtrating. [ 2 ] . Sensitive subjects are filtered, for illustration, Taiwan independency. In MySpace China, there is an abused study map for users. Abused history would be block when found that the maltreatment is true. This could assist catching illegal netizens. Chinese Government would even interfere in disposal of company or bound person ‘s freedom. Huang Qi [ 10 ] [ 18 ] , a web site proprietor criticized the function of authorities in the pupil slaughter June 4th 1989 in his web site. Government considered his website content as illegal, as a consequence, Huang Qi was arrested on 3 June 2000, and facts stated on his web site were blocked.
In 2009, 1000s of dissenters took to the streets in Xinjiang Riot. Officials reported that dissenters made usage of Twitter/Facebook to gatherA themselves in Xinjiang Province. Many unauthorised posters on local sites and Google were limited by censors during and after the public violences.
Based on BBC News, hunt engine Google was blocked by China [ 1 ] [ 3 ] . It was because China requested Google to filtrate controversial stuffs but Google denied. As a consequence, there is no Google.cn found on the cyberspace. This shows that, when filtrating or barricading is carried out, information transmittal is limited. This would be good to the Government. By commanding the entree right, negative information about the authorities can be blocked.
By looking at the instances in China and America, they show that filtrating and puting up Torahs can assist protecting national security, maintaining netizens off from acquiring piquing information. However, on the Internet users ‘ point of position, filtrating would hold an impact on acquiring updated intelligence because filtering may barricade more than expected. Lots of utile information may be blocked. The ordinance is far from perfect. Though there is such disadvantage, I believe cyberspace should still be regulated by the authorities.
When compared the degree of internet censoring between Hong Kong and China, it is less rigorous in Hong Kong. Net citizens in Hong Kong have suites to knock the Government on the Internet, which would assist supervising the Government. When Hong Kong Government was presenting “ 2012 Act Now ” , net citizens were badgering by making similar motto and logo “ 2012 All Wrong ” . Though the censoring degree is lower, there are still Torahs pull offing the subjects on the cyberspace. Harmonizing to Ming Pao Newspaper ( 2008 ) , netizen spread the message “ Hong Kong will go a metropolis of SARS ” [ 4 ] [ 6 ] . Large Numberss of people were frightened and therefore bought and stored rice bulkily. The netizen was sentenced “ Access to computing machine with condemnable or dishonest purpose ” [ 9 ] [ 24 ] . It shows that net citizens are still required to take duties.
To sum up, internet censoring would be good on societal, economical and political countries, protecting privateness and intelligence belongings, maintaining societal order and public wellness. It is clear that Internet-censorship is necessary as Governments in different states are already taking actions to command the Internet. Despite the advantages, in my point of position, Governments should modulate the Internet because it is more effectual to transport out the subjects from top-down scheme. Followed by, holding the cooperation from other functions, such as webmaster. To me, an effectual ordinance should widen to put up Torahs merely. Citizens would cognize that he/she demand to take effect even on practical universe. Person go againsting Torahs would be arrested, where there is room for the freedom of address on the Internet.
In decision, ordinance is good on many facets. It could assist protecting privateness and intelligence belongings, maintaining societal order and public wellness. Though Internet censoring is a hard undertaking to execute, it is a necessary action taken.