The Internet is the tool most feared today by the elites, the media and by the power. It empowers those who otherwise would remain forgotten, oppressed. It is a weapon that gives ammo to those who are protesting for justice, equality and freedom and that shakes the structures of the state – and of companies – which sees no other choice but to censor.

– Brazilian blogger and Global Voices author Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Hoje marca o Dia Mundial Contra a Cyber Censura, uma iniciativa promovida pela ONG global Repórteres Sem Fronteiras (RSF) em prol de uma única Internet  livre e acessível a todos. O dia, esperamos, vai inspirar os usuários da Internet a aumentarem sua própria consciência sobre censura online, algo que muitos autores do Global Voices conhecem muito bem.

Lina Ben Mhenni, autora do Global Voices, é uma dessas blogueiras. Ela vive na Tunísia, que foi considerara pela RSF um “inimigo da internet” por vários anos seguidos. Em seu blog, ela escreve:

Do you know how does it feel to be censored?

Well, I do !
Indeed, I am experiencing this DISGUSTING feeling since February, 24th 2010. That day, back home from work, I was so disappointed when I discovered the horrible “Error 404″ message- a message that stands for a censored web page in my country- when I tried to log in my Facebook and my blog.

Diego Casaes, um autor brasileiro do Global Voices que escreveu este post sobre o assunto linkando blogueiros de todo o mundo e destacando vários projetos do Global Voices, escreveu em seu blog sua própria prescrição de como os governos devem lidar com a internet.

I also think that governments should be encouraged not to regulate, but rather give the proper infra-structure and educate people on how to use the web. This way, citizens will trust the government and be able to freely express themselves on the web: this is of utmost importance! On this matter, I also think companies should become  more aware of their influence in society. Google’s decision not to regulate search results in China after having some Human Rights activists’ accounts hacked (follow this link for more information) is a demonstration of  how companies should position themselves.

Hoje é o Dia Mundial Contra a Cyber Censura

Em seu blog, o autor marroquino do Global Voices Hisham responde à questão, “O que significa anti-censura online?:

In my humble opinion it means protecting what in some countries has become the last frontier of freedom of expression, which is at the core of all other freedoms; the last place where people can still escape restrictions of oppressive regimes. It means using blogs, videos, pictures, social networks, podcasts and the innumerable tools available online to mobilize people around a cause, expose rights abuses, communicate local struggles and causes to the rest of the world, give voices to the disenfranchised and the minority groups, hold governments accountable, investigate and reveal the truth.

O Paquistão não é considerado um “inimigo da internet”, mas sua censura online costumeiramente afeta pesadamente os blogueiros. Deste país, o autor do Global Voices Advocacy Awab Alvi escreve:

It is my position that the internet should be free and open to the People of Pakistan allowing the people to harness this boundless platform for creating new spaces for exchanging ideas and information, the Internet should be considered as a force for freedom and looked upon as a tool for progressing the growth of a struggling nation.

O Líbano não está engajado em filtrar a internet, mas isto não faz com que Layal Al Khatib pare de falar sobre o assunto em seu blog.  É isto que anti-censura significa para ela:

Freedom! Our most basic right as human beings! We need to be free to express our feelings, thoughts and opinions with no fear of anyone! Censorship by other parties usually ends up with self-censorship, you’ll end up imprisoning yourself if they don’t do it themselves! Which is more dangerous to me..

Tomavana, tradutor Malgasy Lingua [tradutor do Global Voices em língua Malgaxe] nota que em Madagascar, o problema não é necessariamente a filtragem, mas acesso, nos lembrando [FR] que a censura não é a única barreira para a liberdade de expressão:

Quant à évoquer cette liberté d’expression à Madagascar, c’est invariablement buter à la réalité des manques de moyens communs aux pays en développement….De plus, avec un taux d'utilisation d'internet de moins de 5% de la population, il s'agit plus d'un avantage supplémentaire que monnaie une minorité de privilégié plutôt que de véritable droit. Je formule cependant le vœu que ces dérives ne puissent servir de prétexte à un musèlement ni une censure d'Internet à Madagascar mais qu'au contraire son accès soit facilité pour le plus grand nombre notamment par une amélioration de l'offre internet accompagnée à une baisse des coûts de connexions.