Initiative Combats Censorship Across The Globe

[icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu]

Researchers and students at the University of Toronto are teaming up to 
fight Internet censorship across the globe, according to BBC News. The 
project, OpenNet Intiative, is probing into the reasons that certain 
countries like Iran and China ban various types of Web material. The 
project's team then un-censors information and provides it to the 
citizens of these countries. While most findings show that governments 
are using sophisticated site blocking mechanisms to restrict access, 
OpenNet tries to go a step beyond and discover the inner workings of the 
systems and reasons for censorship. However, Ron Deibert, who runs the 
project, realizes that certain cultural norms are at the root of Web 
censorship, and he and his team respect that. "For us to start looking 
at ways to circumvent [censorship] is a difficult challenge for us," he 
said. "We do think that information should be free, but we do need to 
find a balance for respect for sovereign states to preserve their own 
culture."

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3632757.stm