Internet Censorship

Resolution

Government-imposed Internet censorship does more harm than good in fostering a free and open society.

The debate will be “Oxford Style” and follow this format.

Resources

Here are some resources and questions to help guide and nuance the debate:

Questions

1. What constitutes legitimate vs. illegitimate Internet censorship? Is there a meaningful distinction?
2. How do different forms of censorship (fear, friction, flooding) impact their effectiveness and harms?
3. Should democratic governments use censorship techniques to combat misinformation or illegal content?
4. What are the spillover effects of censorship infrastructure (e.g., VPN adoption, circumvention tools)?
5. How does censorship in authoritarian regimes differ from content moderation in democratic societies?
6. What role should private companies play in censorship decisions vs. government mandates?

Readings

• The Impact of Internet Censorship
• Internet Censorship Around the World
• The Case Against Internet Censorship
• How Internet Censorship Affects Free Speech
• Internet Censorship: Global Trends and Challenges