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Internet Censorship Circumvention Tools: Escaping the Control of the Syrian Regime
[journal article]
Abstract Studies have shown that authoritarian regimes tend to censor the media to limit potential threats to the status quo. While such censorship practices were traditionally aimed at broadcast and print media, the emergence of the Internet and social
media in particular, prompted some authoritarian regim... view more
Studies have shown that authoritarian regimes tend to censor the media to limit potential threats to the status quo. While such censorship practices were traditionally aimed at broadcast and print media, the emergence of the Internet and social
media in particular, prompted some authoritarian regimes, such as the Assad regime in Syria, to try and exert a similar level of censorship on the Internet as well. During the Arab Spring, the Syrian regime blocked hundreds of websites that provided social networking, news, and other services. Taking Syria as a case study, this paper examines whether Internet censorship succeeded in preventing Internet users from reaching censored online content during 2010−2012. By analyzing the
use of Alkasir, a censorship circumvention tool created by the author, the paper provides empirical evidence demonstrating that users were in fact able to bypass censorship and access blocked websites. The findings demonstrate that censorship circumvention tools constituted a threat to the information control systems of authoritarian regimes, highlighting the potential of such tools to promote online freedom of expression in countries where Internet censorship is prevalent. (author's abstract)... view less
Keywords
Syria; authoritarian system; media policy; information policy; information capture; freedom of information; political movement; protest; online media; online service; website; social media; censorship; software; Internet
Classification
Peace and Conflict Research, International Conflicts, Security Policy
Media Politics, Information Politics, Media Law
Interactive, electronic Media
Free Keywords
Alkasir; Arab Spring
Document language
English
Publication Year
2016
Page/Pages
p. 39-50
Journal
Media and Communication, 4 (2016) 1
Issue topic
Peacebuilding in the Age of New Media
ISSN
2183-2439
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed
Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution