Internet Freedom is a new challenge facing the 21st century in the society today. The internet is a vast and a crucial medium of communication around the globe. As the world comes on-line, the internet community is quickly evolving and changing as the people move to the digital world. Through the internet, people are able to express themselves through sharing their ideas to the people on different social platforms. In the United States, there has been a foreign policy known as internet freedom for many years. Internet freedom is the free access to the global internets, as a forum for learning, meeting friends, sharing ideas without any censorship. Internet freedom ensures that, people around the globe have access to the internet without any limitations.
Internet freedom is becoming controversial with intense battles raging between different groups as to whether the online anonymity should remain or be eliminated. The proponents feel that, anonymity is very vital in an individual’s freedom of expression. While the other side feels that, people should be able to state their beliefs and ideas without hiding their identity. Whichever side one uses, it is obvious that, the anonymity technology is always available on the internet. Most users on the internet can send and circulate messages by hacking other users’ accounts or even forging identities as well as post them as anonymous.
Internet freedom is very important in communication and sharing ideas. People are able to share their life stories in addition to learn from the internet. On the other hand, it can still be very dangerous because it will lead to an increase in abuse and illegal activities on the internet. Most abusive, harmful, and frivolous messages sent on the internet come from anonymous, therefore, opponents insist that, the internet freedom should be censored by removing anonymous servers. When internet freedom is removed, the senders will now be able to take responsibility and be accountable for their actions. Internet freedom had led to many cases of harassment, kidnapping, hate speech, terrorism, and financial scams, and if the internet is censored, all these could be eliminated. Moreover, many people have taken the advantage of internet freedom to defame each other’s name on social platforms. Therefore, the opponents argue that, internet freedom should not be allowed in order to decrease illegal activities on the internet, harassment, defamation, and terrorism activities.
In addition, internet freedom has become a controversial topic whereby some lobby groups want to censor free speech on the internet as well as block sharing information and access to some sites. In the last few months, there have been controversial topics on the future of internet freedom and access. They argue that, there should be a control on how the internet is used by users. However, this is very dangerous because, the internet is an important tool where human rights and democracy activist marshal people and advocate for social, political, and economic reforms (MacKinnon 102). Therefore, if the internet freedom is censored, filtered or monitored, it will be a human rights violation. Many democratic states are considering implementing restrictions on internet freedom.
Proponents of internet freedom are determined to bring down the walls denying people free access to the internet, and advocating for censorship. Internet freedom is important because, it helps people around the globe to connect and share ideas freely irrespective of the part of the continent they are from. Moreover, internet freedom helps fuel the global economy because, experts on economics are able to share ideas in many internet platforms on how to improve the world economies. Internet helps youth to find jobs because they are posted on the internet as well as creating jobs for many people to work online. Most importantly, with internet freedom, powerful information and resources can be shared to the isolated people or those oppressed and this can make them have a voice and become active and affluent people in the community. Internet freedom is very important to people around the world because, they can share anything with their peers or the people they meet on social platforms. All in all, the internet is an important learning tool in the world today.
Opponents argue that, internet freedom is a threat to the government because; it can help spread illegal content that opposes the government. Moreover, internet freedom can help spread malicious statements of people over the internet thus making their lives a living hell. There are cases whereby some youths have even committed suicide due to cyber bullying and this can only be stopped in all the information on the internet is censored and internet freedom abolished.
The future of internet freedom is at stake with many governments blocking its citizens from dissident sites. The Catholic Social Teaching is a body that develops doctrines on matters related to wealth, social organization, economics and wealth. The Catholic Social Teaching Principles can help us in examining the internet freedom debate. It will help us find equilibrium on the matter for the whole internet society. According to the Catholic Social Teaching Principles, every individual has a fundamental right to the necessities of life. Therefore, as the world is evolving, there is a need for everyone to use the internet to learn and to find information; therefore with the use of the principle that everyone has a right to the necessities of life, internet freedom should be allowed to every person because, it is vital with the growing technology in the world. The Catholic Church supports the freedom of expression and therefore, every person has that right to express and share their ideas on the internet with internet freedom.
The freedom of expression is very important for every individual, which is why internet freedom is needed. The internet is a vital tool for expression for people around the globe, and if eliminated, their freedom of expression will be limited or rather be violated (Carr 160). My take on this debate is that, internet freedoms very important and it should not be eliminated. People are able to learn, communicate, and share ideas through the internet and if their freedom is limited, it will affect many things around their lives. Internet freedom with the use of anonymity argue that, it is the best way to share ideas on online discussions on sexual abuse, harassment, and sex lives in order to protect one’s identity. In addition, anonymity during these crucial dialogues can help individuals overcome emotional distress because; they are able to pour out their hearts without being criticized by the people who know them. Therefore, internet freedom is very vital when it comes to sharing vital information on social platforms as anonymous. Even though there comes many issues with this freedom, they are not unique to the internet. Internet freedom has made the internet a platform for free speech and civil participation and this should not be hindered.
The internet is an important tool to connect and communicate via easily affordable and accessible networks and devices; therefore, it is essential for all people to have internet freedom for social, economic, and political freedoms. Additionally, the internet has remained a foremost battlefield for free speech in the 21st century, therefore, it is essential to protect our internet freedom in order to uphold our freedom of speech and assemble in private. Therefore, it is a high time to protect our rights to connect and communicate through internet freedom.
In conclusion, the internet freedom question matters in our society because, every individual has a right to express and share their ideas, emotions, and feelings of the future through the internet. Even though internet freedom is a new challenge facing our society today, individual right to freedom of expression is an integral part to promote democracy in the society. The society should ensure that, every person has the same rights of freedom of expression through the internet without any hindrance. Therefore, internet freedom is very important to the society because, it will help the people to share and express their ideas on the internet freely.
Works Cited
Carr, Madeline. Internet freedom, human rights and power. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 67. 5 (2013): 621—637. Print.
MacKinnon, Rebecca. Consent of the Networked: The Worldwide Struggle for Internet Freedom. New York: Basic Books, 2013. Print.
