Title:

Censorship Issues

Publish Date:

September 2010

ISBN:

978 1 86168 558 2

Covering Ages:

16 to 18 years

Issue Description

Freedom of expression is considered by many to be a fundamental human right. Few would argue with freedom of the press or an individual’s right to protest, but nor would they question the need for censorship of child pornography or graphic violence. Where should the line be drawn between free speech and the right to protection from offence? This book looks at the debate.

The information comes from a wide range of sources and includes government reports and statistics, newspaper articles, features, magazine articles and surveys, literature from lobby groups and charitable organisations.

Price:

£7.95

Quantity:

Key Facts

• Governments in China, Russia, Venezuela and other countries have been systematically encroaching on the comparatively free environment of the Internet and new media. Sophisticated techniques are being used to censor and block access to particular types of information. (page 1)
  
  
• The world’s ten worst-rated countries in terms of press freedom are Belarus, Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In these states, independent media are either non-existent or barely able to operate. (page 2)
  
  
• The foundation of our democracy is the idea that individuals are capable of moral and political reasoning. (page 8)
  
  
• Film and video releases in Britain are amongst the most tightly-regulated in the Western world. With only a few exceptions, every commercially-released film both in cinemas and on video will have been vetted by the British Board of Film Classification. (page 13)
  
  
• While most video games (50%) are suitable for players of all ages (rated 3), there are many that are only suitable for older children and young teenagers. (page 17)
  
  
• Unlike newspapers, which can openly propagate their own views, the television companies cannot editorialise on matters – other than broadcasting issues – which are politically or industrially controversial or relate to current public policy. (page 19)
  
  
• It is a crime to send indecent matter through the post, or to put it on public display unless entry is restricted to persons over 18 and payment is required, or the display is in a special part of a shop with an appropriate warning notice. (page 23)
  
  
• Between July and December 2009, the UK government made 59 requests for content to be removed from Google’s various sites, most of which related to content on its YouTube video sharing service, and with 76.3% of which Google ‘fully or partially’ complied. (page 29)
  
  
• It is important to emphasise that cyberspace is owned and operated primarily by private companies. The decisions taken by those companies on content controls can be as important as those taken by governments. (page 33)

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Free Speech Debate

Restrictions on press freedom intensifying, PCC rejects Jan Moir complaint, What is the PCC, Confusing censoring with censuring, The public and press self-regulation, PCC attitude survey, The BNP: no platform, no exceptions, Why ‘no platform’ is incompatible with freedom of speech, British troops harassed by anti-war protesters during homecoming parade, The Luton protestors should not have been convicted, Atheists and ASBOs: what price offence?.

Chapter 2 Regulation and Standards

Censorship and regulation, Film classification, Public opinion and the BBFC guidelines, The age-rating system for video games, Ofcom, Swearing on television, Obscenity, Ofcom says TV channels have ‘human right’ to broadcast offensive material, Was Mary Whitehouse right about the permissive society?.

Chapter 3 Censoring the Internet

Clinton warns of ‘information curtain', Google reveals government censorship requests, The unknown promise of Internet freedom, A censorship model, Cyber wars, Censorship, sexuality and the Internet, 700,000 Brits ‘still exposed to child abuse’.

Key Facts

Glossary

Index

Additional Resources

Acknowledgements

 

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The Study Guide for: Censorship Issues - Volume 196

Each book in the Issues series has a study guide. These four-page guides provide a variety of discussion points and other activities to suit a wide range of ability levels and interests.

Publisher: Independence Educational Publishers
Price: £1.95
ISBN: ISBN: 978 1 86168 568 1

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