Censorship in the 21st Century and how Authoritarian Governments are Propagating It
Censorship has become increasingly weaponized as a way that authoritarian governments use to muzzle opponents and critics.
Now more than ever, the world is at risk of suffering censorship at the hands of rogue and authoritarian governments. It is especially the case in this pandemic where authoritarian governments are taking advantage of the situation to put in place stricter measures and controls in terms of information.
Censorship on the Grounds of Curbing Misinformation or Fake News
Governments intent on censoring information can easily do so on allegations of curbing misinformation or protecting against harmful content, especially now that globally, most children are at home and not in school. These times call for engaging parenthood to ensure that children stay away from harmful online content. As we stay in, we should be sure to stay safe online. However, the falsification of intent by dictatorial governments to allow for censorship is wrong.
Increased Online Information Access in the Current Pandemic
The circumstances created by the current pandemic and the ensuing lockdown have meant that more and more of us are indoors and are more likely to be accessing information online or on the media. The rate of online information access is most definitely higher now than before the pandemic. This increase in online activity has meant that more and more people have had the opportunity and reach to access information that would otherwise not reach them.
