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Essay Censorship Is Wrong

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Censorship: an official authorised to examine printed matter, films, news, etc., before public release, and to suppress any parts on the grounds of obscenity, a threat to security, etc. (Dictionary, MS Encarta)

Censorship is the removal of material from public viewing or the ability to withhold any material from being released. Using this definition, this issue of pornography seems to be in the grey area of the censorship debate. On the one side there are the people who want to protect their children from pornography and violence, and on the other people state that the Internet is the only medium which still openly accepts freedom of speech. Censorship is always wrong, no matter how unpleasant the material being considered.

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Pornography is the explicit, sexual images that we wish to protect our children from, but there are other ways. It is estimated that sexually explicit sites are the only sites on the Web making money, even though there is so much competition. Using this information we can assume that the majority of the people on the Internet want and use this pornography at their own leisure and are not at all offended by it in the slightest. Further research has shown that in Australia 70% of (the) people want X-rated material readily available. There is a market out there for such material and if the Internet is censored, many successful businesses will become ‘unacceptable’ to the rules and guidelines set by the censors, but if we want it, it should be allowed to be accessible.

The fact that people want the pornography still doesn’t stop the Internet from being under fire from concerned parents and politicians. What matters are the people’s rights. The freedom to read, and censorship fails to address issues of privacy and the freedom to use such services. The Internet is anonymous which makes it better for consumers as their reputations don’t suffer. However, minorities would suggest that because of this anonymity on the Internet, ages can't be monitored, which makes it hard to determine if illegal activities are taking place. It is worth mentioning that all sex sites on the Internet require proof of age by the use of credit cards. The sex sites are interested in

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