Should governments install Internet filters to censor websites containing sexual or profane content?

Topic:
Policy Debates

20 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
25% of users

  • I do believe that governments should filter and censor sexually explicit or profane websites, since there is currently very little that prevents children from accessing these sites.

    Because sexually explicit and profane sites are so prolific online, and because most of these sites do little to prevent children from viewing their material, I do believe it is the government's responsibility to apply some censorship to these sites.

    Yes ToughEfrain26

  • I believe the government should stop some of the illegal activity that correlates with sexual content, but they do not have the right to stop people's behavior.

    Nothing makes me angrier than the sexual horror that goes on in this country. People are sold as sex slaves daily, and a great amount of this transfer and marketing occurs online. It is sickening how many people view pornography, and how many girls are sold. Anything the government can do to hinder the sex industry ought to be done. However, the government cannot stop people from saying what they want to say, even if they say things that are stupid or offensive.

    Yes DizzyCasey

  • No, because restricting expression inhibits freedom of thought, reflects hostility to sexuality, and requires subjective, dubious judgments.

    Filters may be improving with technology, but in the past they have censored health information, literature, politics, and other domains of expression that ought to be sacrosanct, even by the standards of most anti-pornography proponents of such laws. The subjectivity on rampant display here, however, is not restricted to the vagaries of technology. Who is authorized to judge what counts as profane and what degree and manner of reference to the basic human topic of sexuality is excessive? More and more speech can easily come to be seen as dangerous once a fearful mindset takes hold among lawmakers, activists, and the public. This line of thought is an invitation to unchecked paranoia. It's surely wiser to teach ourselves and our children the value of health education and media literacy, including skepticism, consciously filtering the material one encounters, discussing it openly, and cultivating humor, curiosity, toughness, and tolerance.

    Yes M4I4cFeIine

  • Yes, governments should install filters that censor illegal activity that may be of a sexual or profane nature.

    I do not believe in government censorship with respect to matters of free speech, artistic freedom, or even poor taste. However, internet material that breaks laws should be policed. Notably child pornography, prostitution, and other e-commerce related to illegal activities, including drug use, should not be tolerated -- and should be filtered.

    Yes baltute

  • I am torn between this, but Internet pornography is a huge and underrated problem.

    Many people will argue that as it is censorship and a violation of privacy and free speech. However, Internet pornography is a huge problem in this day and age, and very few people care to acknowledge it. Rape, molestation, child pornography, addiction, over-sexualization of women, anti-feminism, wrong views on sex and women, and even murder (a huge percentage of serial killers have extensive porn collections) directly stem from Internet pornography. I would some day like my children to be able to go online without worrying about filth on the net.

    Yes I33Horray
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No
75% of users

  • No, categorically no.

    No, the government should never install filters to block websites. First of all, in the United States, the Constitution guarantees the right to free speech. This same right is guaranteed in many other first-world and westernized countries. In countries where this right is not guaranteed, and the government has placed blocks on Internet usage, such as China and North Korea, the government is viewed as fascist and dictatorial.

    No VoicelessEmil67

  • The government needs to stay out of everyone's personal business.

    What a person searches for or looks at on the Internet is their business, and not the government's. Regulation of where people go online is against everything we, as a nation, stand for. We have the right to look at anything we want, especially in the privacy of our own homes.

    No MoaningElroy

  • I think that government censorship of websites violates the rights of individuals.

    While it may seem that censoring websites is a good idea to save people from viewing potentially damaging content, it is not the job of the government to decide what people should be looking at online during their own time. Not allowing individuals to view the content that they want to is a violation of their human rights. While parents governing their child's use of the Internet saves them from viewing harmful websites, as an adult there is no reason why you should not be able to go on the Internet and view any content that you want to look at.

    No 54nShaI

  • no

    arrogant patronizing do gooders cause more acting out due to pushing their demands on us its a load of religious hypocrites usually involved !!!!!!!

    No Anonymous

  • The government should not filter or censor anything.

    The government in the United States should not be allowed to filter or censor anything. Part of the charm of our country is the freedom we have of speech and choice. This allows us to decide what content we want to view. Allowing the government to have any control over what we view is dangerous and would only set the stage for future harm.

    No TedieDelight

  • No, the government should not install Internet filters to censor websites containing sexual or profane content, because it is none of their business.

    There already exists various software and services that offer to filter the Internet for you from such offensive content. There is no reason for the government to step in and take over such actions when the individual consumer can already decide if they want to filter out offensive content from their Internet or not.

    No H_Baird

  • No, because the Internet is a free and open space that shouldn't be subject to censorship.

    Censoring the Internet will never be a good idea. The government is just scared that the Internet might lead to them one day not being able to have control over the people. They always try to say it's to stop child pornography. And that's a good thing to stop, but they always sneak other things into the bills that have nothing to do with it.

    No deceitfulx

  • No, because it's a persons right to view sexual content

    I do not think the government should filter content because it is a persons right to view sexual content and is up to the discretion of the person looking at it. This would be a start to the government trying to regulate and filter more stuff, such as violent movies, books, music, or games. It should be left up to private homes, school, and libraries to filter content but not the government.

    No eastandnow

  • Censorship simply does not work, and no one can fully agree about what is "profane."

    First of all, censorship simply does not work. The internet is a vast and sophisticated place, and there is always a way around any censor or monitoring program. Thus, censorship is impractical. Even beyond that, however, it is wrong because it infringes on individual rights--what it "profane" to one person is perfectly acceptable to the next. It is the role of the individual to make this choice for himself, not for the government to do it for him.

    No P4cBran

  • Slippery Slope

    Letting the government define what it considers offensive can only lead to restrictions of free speech. Governments always start the restrictive process with things everyone agrees are terrible and then increases them from there. Regulating the internet wouldn't be any different. There are some sick things out there but guess what - the people who enjoy them were twisted to begin with. Regulating them doesn't eliminate sick behavior - it just gets the government started on eliminating free speech.

    No Anonymous

  • Censorship is unconstitutional regardless of what medium and subject is in question.

    It's up to the individual to determine what is inappropriate--the government has no business censoring anything. We also shouldn't look to the government to take up the slack on poor parenting either; parents should be aware of what their under-aged children are viewing on the Internet.

    No Gri5Helpful

  • I believe the government should not prevent their adult citizens from viewing websites of interest.

    I feel as though the government shouldn't impose on the rights of their citizens. If they are legally adults in the eyes of that government then the government should not be able to tell them that a particular website is "unfit" for their viewing. It should be up to the individual to determine if a website is profane or contains unwanted material. If people are not interested in finding it, then they are typically good at avoiding it.

    No EveyFu22y

  • The governments should not install Internet filters to censor websites containing sexual or profane content.

    Okay...I know..you all probably think I am a pervert but let me just tell you that I am the opposite! I am a mother of three children who do have Internet access, however, I take the time and effort to monitor what they can and cannot see online. There are no laws governing that a legal adult over the age of 18 can and cannot see online. These individuals are of legal age to surf the sex sites if they want and I do not feel it is the governments place to change that. I do however, think it is up to the parents to control what their under age children do.

    No w00tboycomic

  • I hate porn sites, always have, but, I am for freedom on the web and wouldn't want the government doing this.

    For over 15 years or so that I have been "online", I have wished that all porn sites should be something like, whateverporn.porncom, and then be able to easily block out porn IF YOU WISH! I hate just accidentally getting a porn site, and I have despised my kids being able to sometimes come across it. We know that their are plenty of people who want people to just get porn junk, but, I should have the right to not get it. BUT, in answer to the sides, we definitely don't want the government into this, it should be our choice to choose what we don't want, or want. (I do hate all the people who are about ruining the web with viruses, etc. and some of that is porn junk they get on to your computer)

    No deadlyzoqe

  • Governments should not install any Internet filters to censor such website as that can harm free speech.

    There are already rules concerning sexual content such as age limits and which content can be published. Governments should enforce those rules. For profane content, however, the risk to free speech is greater. There are existing rules which define what constitutes an offence to other people and their beliefs and I don't see any need to strengthen such rules by enacting an Internet filter.

    No M4rHunter
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Should governments install Internet filters to censor websites containing sexual or profane content?
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