His defiance would lead to his death by poison.

But, is it really getting worse, or has there always been this level of censorship?

Is censorship simply more widely reported in countries with fewer controls?

Online Censorship has an Escalating Pattern. Where is Your Country Positioned?

If censorship is increasing, what does that mean for countries just starting to strengthen their internet censorship?

How did this censorship come about?

Three years later an agreement brought about the end of hostilities, but no formal peace treaty was signed.

Censorship over time

North Korea now considers itself a self-sufficient state that requires nothing from the outside world.

It has developed a strong military-first stance and continues to uphold Stalinist style communist ideals.

As well as religious censorship, the government uses such measures to curtail attempts at counter-revolution.

Censorship over time

How did religion affect Iran’s censorship?

To understand censorship in Iran, it is necessary to go back to the Iranian revolution of 1979.

There was further upheaval as presidents were removed from power and replaced at the will of Khomeini.

Censorship over time

At this time, the internet was still a relatively new phenomenon in Iran.

From 2011 onwards,efforts to wrap up the net on internet freedoms took a sharp increase.

This new data tracking fell under the authority of the newly constructed body set up to oversee the internet.

Korea social media ban

Their task is to define policy and co-ordinate decisions regarding the Internet.

Censorship became so prominent in Iran that politicians used it to gain votes.

Prior to the 2013 elections, Hassan Rouhani campaigned for more social media platforms and less censorship.

Blocking social media

One such example is with Telegram, the messaging app.

The Iranian regime seems to smother any possibility of a less censored country.

One country that exhibits historic openness but uses modern control through censorship is China.

China’s firewall blocks social media

However, within two years the first regulations set to censor the internet had been passed.

By 1997, these regulations also defined harmful information and harmful activities in relation to internet usage.

However, the first restrictions on content providers did not surface until 2000.

VPNs locked up

This orderstopped China-based websites from linking to overseas sites that provided or distributed news.

Within three years,internet cafes required a license to open.

This step is due to become a nationwide regulation in 2017.

Online Censorship a Slippery Slope animated graphic

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Chinas steep increase in censorship.

However, this started to change in 2012, in response to protests in Moscow.

Wikipedia, Facebook, and Twitter, among others, were also blocked, albeit briefly.

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But, even this would be minimal censorship when compared with what was to come in 2017.

Subsequently, the Russian administration developed two legislative proposals.

Are other countries on the same slippery slope?

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However, in recent years those freedoms have started to be curtailed.

TheInvestigatory Powers Act 2016almost slipped in under the radar of the average internet user.

TheUS imposed similar controls through Rule 41, just a month after the UK legislation was pushed through.

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The regulations would also give them the power to override messaging app security and privacy protocols.

What happens then if you make a joke or political comment that the hidden reader takes offense to?

It has little to do with actual protection of the populace.

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The work of activists across the globe is focused firstly on this aim.

It is important for this to happen, and to happen soon.

After all, history is full of examples of what happens when good people do nothing.

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Censorship over time

Korea social media ban

Blocking social media

China’s firewall blocks social media

VPNs locked up

Online Censorship a Slippery Slope animated graphic