Title: Why Internet Censorship is Bad for Everyone
Headings: Why Internet Censorship is Bad for Everyone
Why Internet Censorship is Bad for Everyone
First World Problems
Slowing Progress
Anonymity
Bad for Business
Follow the Money
Access for All

Content: Why Internet Censorship is Bad for Everyone
Why Internet Censorship is Bad for Everyone
The internet—the world’s final frontier for free thinkers and pictures of cats. These days just about everyone uses it, from grandma to six-year-old little Timmy. We may have different reasons for logging in, but everyone has something to gain from the endless trove of information and ideas that sits before our computer, phone, or tablet. But not everyone thinks that information should universally be available. First World Problems
It’s well known that oppressive governments seek to limit access to the internet, censoring political dissidence and restricting content to that which best supports the powers that be. But increasingly, even less tyrannical governments have begun placing restrictions on what users can and can’t see. ISPs hoping to save money in the US have campaigned in an attempt to setup internet fast lanes to charge heavy traffic websites extra money to maintain their speed (such as Netflix). Even Australia, a first-world nation by any standard, has recently passed legislation to start outright blocking web domains deemed guilty of supporting pirated content. It will require ISPs to block these websites on a national level, limiting what Australians have access to; unless of course they use a VPN (virtual private network), which allows the user to connect to the net via other countries.