How Censorship Act as Policy or Philosophy?

Censorship as Policy and Philosophy

Censorship is a complex concept that is often seen in policy or philosophy. There are several situations where censorship becomes a topic of discussion, such as; political contexts, national security, social and moral concerns, cultural and religious sensitivities, media and entertainment, internet and digital platforms, educational institutions, public health, and safety. Now the question is "What is censorship"? Censorship refers to the act of examining news reports, political issues, books, movies, and other media, and then suppressing, controlling, or prohibiting the unacceptable and obscene parts in those areas. For example, when a book talks about any sensitive area that harms general people, censorship plays a role in suppressing or prohibiting the writer from removing this topic from that book and warning to stop spreading this kind of message to society. Simply, it restricts or prohibits access to ideas and information to protect certain interests, uphold moral standards, maintain order, and safeguard national security. Government authorities, organizations, and other regulatory bodies generally practice censorship.  

This content explores the dual nature of censorship such as Censorship as Policy and Censorship as Philosophy. It also examines both its practical applications and the underlying philosophical debates that shape its implementation.

Types of Censorship

Government Censorship: It is practiced by the state of authorities to restrict controversial political content, ensure national security by suppressing suspicious information, and control the portrayal of cultural, religious, or social norms. 

Corporate Censorship: It is enforced by private companies to ensure legal compliance by blocking unacceptable and unethical content and information in their business practices or policies. 

Self-Censorship: When individuals or organizations keep away from using and spreading such information and opinions that will hurt people or society's morality and lives, it is called self-censorship. 

Censorship as Policy

1. Protection of National Security: Nowadays, the protection of national security is a highly concerned issue for the nation. And it is the most cited reason for censorship. Governments need to restrict access to confidential information by considering the safety of the nation. Specially, in case of political events and wartime, it is highly recommended to ensure censorship. For instance, during wartime, the military force highly maintained censorship to protect information about military strategies and operations from the enemy and prevent them from gaining an advantage. Similarly, in the digital age, cybersecurity policies often include measures to censor information that could lead to cyberattacks or the spread of harmful software.

During World War II, the United States Office of Censorship highly altered and worked to control the flow of sensitive military information to protect it from the enemy. Recently, China has implemented strict cybersecurity laws that include censorship of online content to protect public order, societal norms, and national security. 

2. Prevention of Hate Speech and Incitement to Violence: Nowadays, in social media platforms and public events, there can be hate speech and content that incites violence. Throughout the hate speech, a specific group, society, community, or region might be getting bullied or disrespected. In those cases, Censorship is also employed as a preventive policy to prevent the spread of hate speech and content.  This is often justified on the grounds of maintaining public order and protecting vulnerable communities from harm.

In Germany, the 'NetzDG law (Network Enforcement Act)' includes censorship of social media platforms. This censorship enforces social media platforms to remove hate speech within 24 hours of notification. Similarly, Facebook and Twitter have developed policies aligning with censorship to prohibit users from sharing censored content that promotes violence or hate speech.

3. Protection of Minors: Governments and institutions in every country are highly concerned about minors. They often censor content to protect minors from the touch of inappropriate material and access to sensitive information. This includes censorship of violent, sexual, or otherwise harmful content in media accessible to children and teenagers.

To ensure healthy growth and protect the child or minors from harmful content, 'The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)' in the United States mandates the use of internet filters in schools and libraries that block access to harmful content. 

Censorship as Philosophy

1. Moral and Ethical Considerations: Henry Paulson stated, "In just about every area of society, there's nothing more important than ethics." This statement highly emphasizes the importance of developing ethics. But sometimes ethics, morality, societal norms, and values are decreased by blasphemous material, unacceptable actions, and contents. From a philosophical perspective, censorship is often justified on moral and ethical grounds. Philoshopists and other proponents argue that to uphold societal norms and values, certain content should be censored.

"The Republic" is a great work of 'Plato' in which he supported the censorship of literature and art in his ideal society to protect people from harmful influences. He also argued that exposure to certain types of content is enough to corrupt the mind and lead to the destabilization of societal harmony. 

2. Autonomy and Freedom of Expression: Censorship is irrelevant for a group of people who follow the philosophical principle of autonomy and the fundamental human right to freedom of expression. They often present a philosophical argument that every individual should have the freedom of speech and the right to access information without interference from authorities or regulatory bodies. 

John Stuart Mill stood against censorship throughout his work "On Liberty." He has advocated for absolute freedom of speech and expression. He believed that personal autonomy and the development of a nation can be enhanced by having freedom to exchange ideas and expressions. According to Mill, even ideas that are offensive or unpopular should not be censored, as the suppression of any viewpoint limits the intellectual growth of society. This statement created a controversy. Is society's growth possible with offensive ideas or should censor those ideas to protect the societal norms and values from offensive consequences? 

3. Power Dynamics and Control: Opponents argued with a philosophical critique that censorship is used in society or a nation as a tool for maintaining power and control. They argue that it is employed to maintain their (government and other regulatory bodies) dominance on society rather than protecting society from unusual content or ideas. 

French philosopher Michel Foucault explored the relationship between power and knowledge. He argued that censorship is used as a tool to maintain authority in a society or nation, which is in charge of power control. He posited that the regulation of information is a form of social control, used to perpetuate existing power structures and suppress alternative viewpoints.

Censorship, whether viewed as a policy or a philosophy, remains a deeply contested issue. As a policy, it is used to protect national security, safeguard minors, and prevent harm. However, the philosophical debates surrounding censorship raise important questions about morality, autonomy, and the dynamics of power and control. Philosophical arguments more often highlight the benefits of individuals and authorities who practice censorship rather than social benefits. Ultimately, the discourse on censorship must navigate the delicate terrain between necessary regulation and the preservation of fundamental human rights.