Argument on Censorship - Research Paper Example

This paper is a critical evaluation of censorship both as a positive and a negative instrument. Censorship Censorship, as stated herein, is an instrument used by governments, religious groups, and media among other groups to prevent the flow of information, which has a real or perceived capacity of destabilizing the society. The government and other interested parties such as the church, have the role of ensuring that moral values are protected in the society by all means available. This is necessary especially with the ever increasing accessibility and utilization of internet resources, not only by adults but also under age users.

Apparently, the internet has got thousands of sites, which contain pornographic contents ranging from videos, photographs and texts. In this era of high HIV prevalence, every parent must be worried and careful on the kind of information their children are getting from the internet as pornographic materials have the capacity of creating curiosity which may end up being satisfied through engagement in illicit sex. In order to achieve this, censorship on such materials is essential and every internet provider should be held accountable if they do not apply filter on such contents (Heins 58).

However, censorship in the past has been used as a means of keeping the citizens in the dark and protecting governments from criticism (Jansen 22). In this context, laws are put in place with the intention of gagging institutions such as the media and monitoring the internet so as to ensure that they do not broadcast information which is anti government. China for example has been criticized several times for applying censorship to protect the communist party. In this case, critics indicate that the government is keen on covering up past and present failures of the party so as to let people continue believing that their government is perfect and responsible.

In addition, it is believed that censorship in this country is also used to shun penetration of western ideologies in the society especially due to the fact that most of the western nations are pro democracy and in that aspect, allowing free flow of information from their sources may open the eyes of Chinese citizens to alternative forms of governance (Barbour 61). This in itself is highly unethical on the part of the government as it enhances ignorance on matters concerning politics and also creates a platform for mismanagement of public resources and limitation of fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression and the right to hold demonstrations.

It also puts media personnel at loggerheads with the authorities, which puts them in danger of being arrested or losing their operating licenses (Jansen 36). Countries such as Ireland have also in the past passed legislations promoting censorship of books and other materials believed to touch on issues that are perceived to be sensitive. These are for example the Censorship of Publications Act, 1929, 1946 and 1967, which restricted the publishing or possession of materials discussing reproductive health (Maurice 19).

This is to imply that any information regarding contraceptives, sex, condoms, abortion among others were not to be circulated in the society, a move which was seen as favoring the