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Users of the Internet, sometimes called “netizens”, have developed an online culture which transcends national boundaries. One of the most firmly established values, born of the Internet’s academic roots, is a strong commitment to freedom of speech. Netizens tolerate all points of view and have actively resisted the attempts of several governments to restrict or censor content. Some believe this commitment to free speech has been a tool for spreading democracy in the world.   So far the Internet has governed itself. However, censorship of Internet content continues. Certain countries, like Singapore, have even banned access to the Internet.   In June of 1995, the U.S. Congress passed the Communications Decency Act into law which made it illegal to transmit any indecent material over the Internet. The constitutionality of the law is currently being tested in the courts.   Does it make sense to censor the Internet? For one thing, it is almost technically impossible to accomplish. The sheer amount of information generated each day, creates perhaps the biggest hurdle for censorship. Each day billions of bytes of information are exchanged. Who would read all of that information and decide what is offensive? The use of encryption technology, which scrambles all transmitted data, also renders efforts to censor Internet content ineffective. The Internet is a virtual world which mirrors the real world. It has areas that are suitable for everyone and areas suited only for adults. And just as in the real world, you must actively seek these questionable areas. They do not come to you. The culture of the Internet is to educate people and then trust them to make their own decisions on what they wish to view.

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