Internet Filtering & the Law
September 29, 2004
What are the legal implications of limiting access to Internet content? In this paper, the
OpenNet Initiative -- a partnership of the
Citizen Lab, the
University of Cambridge, and the
Berkman Center -- finds that governments offer a range of justifications for blocking content, from safeguarding national security to protecting community standards. Though filtering has tremendous effects on civil liberties, governmental policymaking, and Internet governance, there are few mechanisms for examining and reforming Internet censorship. The paper emphasizes the need for transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness to maintain a reliable, efficient, and global medium for communication. Read the full report on the
Legal Implications of Internet Filtering.