Decline in Media Freedom

Could you imagine if the Australian government restricted our access to Facebook, blogging websites or phone lines?

Just like many of you reading this blog, I am known to have posted a few comments about my political beliefs on blogging websites and joining political groups on Facebook. But imagine if the Australian Government limited our access to certain media technologies because our political expressions were being posted nationally and internationally. Imagine...


Shirky (2011) states that, during the impeachment trial of Philippine President Joseph Estrada, many Philippine citizens were unhappy and a protest was arranged by forwarded text messages reading, "Go 2 EDSA. Wear blk." He continued to explain that because of 'the public's ability to coordinate such a massive and rapid response -- close to seven million text messages were sent that week' (Shirky, 20110) that governments have began restricting access to certain media technologies and limiting internet freedom.


Are you aware of the Chinese government taking huge precautions and applying online barriers within China because of political issues that have occurred, just like in the Phillippines? 'These barriers include tightening control over the Web through restrictive laws, employing computerized filters to screen and eliminate certain content, and increased monitoring by government personnel and Web site operators' (Esarey and Qiang, 2009). Egypt has also applied barriers by disconnection phones lines and the internet, to stop comments and images, which reveal a wave of anti-government violence, being sent and visible nationally and internationally (Mullany, 2011). 

Yes, the governments have the right to be concerned about what political opinions are posted online and through media technologies, but do you really think they have the right to block our access to social media platforms and disconnect our phone lines?

(SodaHead, 2011)

Reference List


Esarey, A. Quiang, X. 2009. "Digital Communication and Political Change in China". International Journal of Communications 5 (2011). 298 - 319. Accessed March 26, 2011. http://ijoc.org/ojs/index.php/ijoc/article/viewFile/688/525 


NyDailyNews. 2011."Egyptian uprising plays out on social media sites despite government's Internet restrictions". Accessed March 26, 2011. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2011/01/29/2011-01-29_rock_in_1_hand_cell_phone_in_the_other.html?r=news 


Shirky, C. (2011). The Political Power of Social Media: Technology, the Public Sphere, and Political Change in Foreign Affairs. Volume 90, Issue 1;  pg. 28, 15 pgs. 


SodaHead, 2011. "Thousands of Protestors flood Cairo: Who is to Blame?". Image. Accessed March 26, 2011.

http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/thousands-of-protesters-flood-cairo-who-is-to-blame/question-1478713/ link=ibaf&imgurl=http://images.sodahead.com/slideshows/000004905/744510977_protest_in_egypt-36314206186_xlarge.jpeg&q=protest%2Bin%2Begypt%2Bimages