This document discusses web censorship and public awareness in Japan. It outlines different perspectives on what censorship means, and notes moves toward increased internet regulation in Japan around content filtering and copyright legislation. While most public surveys show support for regulating "harmful content", opposition argues that censorship could stifle innovation and leave Japan behind economically. The document concludes that awareness and literacy are important aspects of the debate around internet censorship.
3. What does “Web Censorship” mean?
Different meanings in different contexts:
Censorship by governments against freedom of expression
and free access to information
Filtering of content seen as “harmful” to society
Violation of privacy rights: web monitoring, eavesdropping
“Censorship” against file sharing (copyrighted content)
What is “anticensorship”?
4. “The Age of Net Regulation is Coming”
In the last year, moves toward net regulation:
1.Internet content (transmission + broadcasting = ?)
2.Copyright legislation (file sharing)
3.Mobile web access (filtering, “harmful” content)
Fears about: “deai” (dating) sites, obscene/voilent
content, child porn, “adult” anime, net bullying,
death threats (Akihabara massacre), etc. etc. etc.
5. Filtering of “harmful” content
Bill by LDP/DPJ passed into law on June 11th
Included in the bill:
Obligation on PC makers to preinstall national
standardsbased filtering software on PCs/mobile phones
Filtering on mobile phones for users under age 18
ISPs required to eliminate harmful content/services
Government decides what is “harmful”
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9. Support for Regulation
A survey on regulation of “harmful content” (2007):
67.8% said the Internet should be regulated
22.7% said they lean toward regulation
3.1% said they lean toward nonregulation
1.4% said the Internet should not be regulated
76% support web filtering, 51% want police to
strengthen monitoring, 87% support manga porn
regulation
10. Opposition to Regulation
Some of the greatest opposition from companies:
DENA, Yahoo, Microsoft, Rakuten, Net Star
Emphasizing positives of an open Internet
11. Opposition strategies
More so than free access to information, opposition
strategies emphasize economic considerations:
Regulation will stop innovation/creativity
Japan will be left behind, outcompeted
Also emphasizes knowledge issues:
Many proposals are technologically contradictory
Lack of transparency in legislation
12. The “people” are killing the Internet
Oppression of the people by governments and
corporations is not seen as a major concern
Conern is about other citizens:
Bullying, death threats, dating sites, obscene content,
copyright violation, etc. etc.
Conclusion: it is the people who are killing the
Internet, gov't needs to step in and regulate
13. The future is now
Citizen media coverage of Akihabara killings:
Instantaneous through Ustream, 20003000 viewers
No editing or censorship of footage
Large public backlash, criticism
14. Summary
“Web censorship” means different things to
different people/groups/nations
Different opposition strategies:
Technological problems with censorship
Lack of transparency in process
Economic considerations, innovation/creativity
Awareness and literacy are key