Privacy International
London, UK
GreenNet Educational Trust
London, UK
September 2003
Silenced is an independent
research initiative managed jointly by Privacy International
and the GreenNet Educational Trust. The twelve-month project
was undertaken through a collaboration of more than fifty
experts and advocates throughout the world. The work was
made possible by a grant from the Open Society Institute.
The Internet has evolved to become an increasingly important
platform not just for economic development, but also as a support
for advocates who wish to express their opinion freely and to
work toward the development of democracy. The medium has provided
opportunities for citizens to participate in forums, and to discuss
and debate issues that concern them. Unlike other media where
the information flow is unidirectional - from the government
to the masses - the Internet allowed a multi-way communication
process giving the chance for anybody to air their opinions and
views on issues affecting them. The development of the Internet
has lead to more horizontal and less vertical communication.
Control and censorship has a substantial effect on the Internet
because it undermines confidence and trust in the medium and
inhibits crucial flows of data.
This study has found that censorship of the Internet is commonplace
in most regions of the world. It is clear that in most countries
over the past two years there has been an acceleration of efforts
to either close down or inhibit the Internet. In some countries,
for example in China and Burma, the level of control is such
that the Internet has relatively little value as a medium for
organised free speech, and its used could well create additional
dangers at a personal level for activists. The September 11,
2001 attacks have given numerous governments the opportunity
to promulgate restrictive policies that their citizens had previously
opposed. There has been an acceleration of legal authority for
additional snooping of all kinds, particularly involving the
Internet, from increased email monitoring to the retention of
Web logs and communications data. Simultaneously, governments
have become more secretive about their own activities, reducing
information that was previously available and refusing to adhere
to policies on freedom of information.
Governments of developing nations rely on Western countries
to supply them with the necessary technologies of surveillance
and control, such as digital wiretapping equipment, deciphering
equipment, scanners, bugs, tracking equipment and computer intercept
systems. The transfer of surveillance technology from first to
third world is now a lucrative sideline for the arms industry.
Without the aid of this technology transfer, it is unlikely that
non-democratic regimes could impose the current levels of control
over Internet activity.
One of the most important trends in recent years is the growth
of multinational corporate censors whose agendas are very different
from those of governments. It is arguable that in the first decade
of the 21st century, corporations will rival governments in threatening
Internet freedoms. Some American cable companies seek to turn
the Internet into a controlled distribution medium like TV and
radio, and are putting in place the necessary technological changes
to the Internet’s infrastructure to do so. Aggressive protection
of corporate intellectual property has result in substantial
legal action against users, and a corresponding deterioration
in trust across the Internet.
A wide variety of methods are used to restrict and/or regulate
Internet access. These include: applying laws and licenses, content
filtering, tapping and surveillance, pricing and taxation policies,
telecommunication markets manipulation, hardware and software
manipulation and self censorship.
There are some positive developments within this survey. Countries
have established protections, countries have enshrined protections,
companies have fought for the rights of privacy of individuals,
technologies have sustained the ability of dissident groups to
speak freely and access content privately, differences in laws
in countries has sheltered the speech of the oppressed. Technological
developments are being implemented to protect a free Internet,
but the knowledge gap between radical innovators and restrictive
institutions appears to be closing.
