Fifth International Conference on Information Technology: New Generations

Internet Filtering and Censorship Samir N. Hamade Associate Professor, Kuwait University
Abstract
Internet filtering is on the rise in the world today. It is being conducted in most western industrialized countries as well as developing countries and undemocratic regimes. Internet filtering software are used as tools to prevent Internet users from accessing or viewing materials that are considered unsafe or inappropriate. While many people support and encourage the use of these software to protect their children and communities, others see them as tools to deprive people from their own right to access information freely, and consider them tools for censorship in violation of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This paper addresses the problem of Internet filtering by identifying the technology used to block information, and addressing the issue of who is using these software and whether filtering is considered protection or censorship.. The paper concluded that while no one can object to the filtering and blocking of pornography, hate, violence and terror sites on the Internet, many warn against expanding the use of these software to oppress people and prevent them from exercising their rights of free access to information as part of their intellectual freedom.

In order to prevent the Internet from causing harm and endangering the life of innocent people and at the same time benefiting from the wealth of information it contains, governments, organizations and families started using some kind of software to prevent access to such materials. Internet filtering is the term used to prevent users from accessing specific materials such as websites, webpages, blogs, or any materials available online. In addition, as Internet activity expands worldwide, methods of filtering have become more far-reaching. Today a number of nations censor Internet communication in some fashion. Internet filtering software, internet blocking software, and censorware are used interchangeably as tools to prevent Internet users from accessing or viewing materials that are considered unsafe or inappropriate. While many people support and encourage the use of these software to protect their children and communities, others see them as tools to deprive people from their own right to access information freely, and consider them tools for censorship.

Objectives of the study

This paper attempts to address the problem of Internet filtering by identifying the technology used to block information, and addressing the issue of who is using these software and whether they have the right to do it. The paper aims to answer the following questions: 1. What is Internet filtering and how is it conducted? 2. What are the most used filtering software on the market today? 3. Who is using these filtering software and why? 4. Is Internet filtering considered protection or censorship? 5. What are the counter measures to Internet filtering?

Keywords: Internet filter software, censorship, IP

blocking, URL blocking, censorware

Introduction
The Internet is considered today as the most important technology available worldwide. It has become an important tool not only for research and communication but also for everyday activities from transportation to shopping, eating, drinking, and entertaining. These days, Text messaging, chat rooms, blogs, and e-zines. are just a few of the new Internet tools for spreading information and opinions. However, most people see the Internet as a sword with two edges. On one hand, it has made the world smaller by connecting people, spreading news and facilitating access to valuable information. On the other hand, it has become a threat to mankind by providing access to dangerous materials that are considered harmful and objectionable.

Internet Filtering
The terms Internet filtering, blocking, and censoring are all used to mean preventing Internet

978-0-7695-3099-4/08 $25.00 2008 IEEE DOI 10.1109/ITNG.2008.50

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users from accessing or viewing materials that are considered unsafe or objectionable. Internet censorship is the control or suppression of the publishing or accessing of information on the Internet. Internet filtering normally refers to the technical approaches to control access to information on the Internet, as embodied in the two approaches described below. 1) Technical blocking There are three commonly used techniques to block access to Internet sites: IP blocking, DNS tampering, and URL blocking using a proxy. These techniques are used to block access to specific WebPages, domains, or IP addresses. These methods are most frequently used where direct jurisdiction or control over websites are beyond the reach of authorities. Keyword blocking, which blocks access to websites based on the words found in URLs or blocks searches involving blacklisted terms, is a more advanced technique that a growing number of countries are employing. 2) Search result removals In several instances, companies that provide Internet search services cooperate with governments to omit illegal or undesirable websites from search results. Rather than blocking access to the targeted sites, this strategy makes finding the sites more difficult [1] A recent development has been the creation of web rating systems. These systems are actually built into the web pages and web browsers themselves. The most well known is called PICS (Platform for Internet Content Selection) which is being developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). An additional mode of control is to regulate the places where users access the Internet. In many countries in the Middle East and North Africa, users primarily go online at Internet cafs. Some governments require these cafs to maintain lists of their patrons and keep an eye on their activities, others go further and require that computer screens be visible to caf managers at all times.

are just some of the tools available with today's Internet filter software designed to protect against and counteract the tactics of aggressive online companies. Even though the perfect Internet Filter does not exist in today's marketplace, there are a number of software that meets most government sectors, companies and families' needs. Some of the important criteria used to evaluate Internet filter software are: Ease of Use The most important attribute an Internet filter program can offer is an easy-to-use design, making it possible for people with all levels of computer experience to easily install and use the filter to its fullest capacity. Effectiveness of filtering Top Internet filter software offers a good balance between filtering objectionable material and not filtering too much content. Another important aspect is the ability to customize the filter's sensitivity for individual needs Filtering algorithm The best filter programs use a combination of filtering techniques, including URL filtering, keyword filtering and dynamic filtering. Activity reporting The most useful Internet filter software offer reports on what each family member has been doing on the computer, which includes websites visited, chat room activities and so on. Client-Server based Good filtering programs offer a flexible platform which allows users to decide whether their optimal filtering solution is client (home computer) based, server (Proxy or ISP) based or a combination of both. Foreign language filtering Effective Internet filter programs offer the capacity to filter keywords in multiple languages. One of the tricks that many teenagers have discovered to bypass Internet filters is to type in the foreign language equivalent of certain keywords. Port filtering and blocking Filtering programs should block or filter all major Internet protocols, including web access, chat rooms, email, peer-to-peer networks, bulletin boards and popup windows [2]

Internet Filtering Software

Internet filtering software gives people the ability to control content displayed, block websites, and set up passwords. Powerful services like email filtering, popup blocking and chat room monitoring

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These Internet filtering software add a strong, additional layer of defense-giving parents and communities an added measure of control and further peace of mind. The most widely used Internet filtering software on the US market today according to Top Ten REVIWES [3] based on their features, ease of use and installation, and filtering effectiveness, are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Net Nanny Cyber Sitter Cyber Patrol Max Protect Filter Pak Net-map Safe Eyes Wise Choice Cyber Sentinel

There are significant transparency and accountability issues raised by the deployment of filtering technology. The process through which content is selected and blocked is most often conducted in secrecy. There are several key issues with regard to the selection of content to be blocked. Countries rarely specifically state the exact criteria to be met in order to have a site blocked. Instead, the selection process is often vague and arbitrary and rarely is justification provided as to why a specific site is blocked. This problem is exacerbated when countries add their own block lists to existing commercial filtering technology. Even the countries that deploy these products at the national level do not know what specific sites are blocked. In effect, the manufacturers of filtering software are determining what Internet content citizens of entire countries have access to. Not only do these companies often make mistakes, but their selection process is not open to peer review and scrutiny [5].

Levels of Internet Filtering

Most countries of the world recognize that each country has its own standards of proper and improper speech. Furthermore, they see that they have little hope of suppressing the source of the speech since obtaining information outside the country is so easy on the Internet. Thus, they have turned to filteringwith notable exceptions [6]. Currently Internet filtering is being conducted at one or more of the following four levels: 1The Government level. Filtering at this level is usually conducted by the ministry of information and communication such as those in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Venezuela, Iran and China. These states determine what kinds of Web sites people should not be permitted to access, and then arrange for those Web sites to be blocked. Different governments have different reasons for filtering the Internet. Protecting national security and communityaccepted standards of decency are frequently cited goals [7]. Although many countries justify their censorship practices as a way to block access to pornography or other culturally sensitive material, some research has documented a large and growing swath of content beyond pornography that is targeted for filtering [8] and [9].

10. McAfee Parental Controls All of these software meet most of the criteria mentioned above and are most used at home, with some that are also used in schools, small businesses, and enterprises. They all use an algorithm based on URLs, and some of them additionally use keywords, and dynamic categorization. Filtering technologies, however, are prone to two simple inherent flaws: under-blocking and overblocking. While technologies can be effective at blocking specific content such as high profile web sites, current technology is not able to accurately identify and target specific categorizes of content found on the billions of WebPages and other Internet media including news groups, email lists, chat rooms and instant messaging. Under-blocking refers to the failure of filtering to block access to all the content targeted for censorship. On the other hand, filtering technologies often block content they do not intend to block, also known as over-blocking. Many blacklists are generated through a combination of manually designated web sites as well as automated searches and, thus, often contain websites that have been incorrectly classified. In addition, blunt filtering methods such as IP blocking can knock out large swaths of acceptable websites simply because they are hosted on the same IP address as a site with restricted content [4].

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The Internet Service providers' level. Most ISPs provide filtering and blocking services to their clients. Some ISPs install filtering software on their networks and force their decisions on their clients such as those in Kuwait, Singapore and Malaysia based on the orders or recommendations of their governments' agencies. Other ISPs give their clients the choice of filtered or unfiltered Internet service such as those in the USA and some European countries [10]. Some ISPs acknowledge filtering by showing block-pages when users try to access banned content. A block-page usually alerts users that they tried to access illegal Web sites; some invite users to suggest the removal of the block on the Web sites if they think they were erroneously blocked. Others, attempt to hide their filtering practice by returning block pages disguised to look like error messages. Also most of the ISPs in countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen prevent Internet users from legitimately using privacy and anonymizing tools and online translation services because they can be used to bypass the filtering systems.

as pornography, gambling, drugs, alcohol, and hate and terror sites. Others see this filtering activity as a type of censorship preventing them from their right of free access to information and denying them their intellectual freedom, which is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. They believe that intellectual freedom is the basis for any democratic system, and it encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas. Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain personsindividuals, groups or government officialsfind objectionable or dangerous. Censors try to use the power of the state to impose their view of what is truthful and appropriate, or offensive and objectionable, on everyone else. Censorship occurs when expressive materials, like books, magazines, films and videos, or works of art, and lately internet websites are removed or kept from public access. Censorship also occurs when materials are restricted to particular audiences, based on their age or other characteristics. In most instances, a censor is a sincerely concerned group or individual who believes that censorship can improve society, protect children, and restore what the censor sees as lost moral values. But under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, every person has the right to read, view, listen to, and disseminate constitutionally protected ideas, even if a censor finds those ideas offensive. Censors might sincerely believe that certain materials are so offensive or present ideas that are so hateful and destructive to society, that they simply must not be available. Others are worried that younger or weaker people will be badly influenced by bad ideas, and will do bad things as a result. Still others believe that there is a very clear distinction between ideas that are right and morally uplifting, and ideas that are wrong and morally corrupting, and wish to ensure that society has the benefit of their perception. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that there are certain narrow categories of speech that are not protected by the First Amendment: obscenity, child pornography, defamation, and words or speeches that incite immediate and imminent lawless action. The government is also allowed to enforce secrecy of some information when it is considered essential to national security, like troop movements in time of war, classified information about defense, etc.

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The organizations level. Most organizations in the private sectors conduct Internet filtering on their local area networks, Intranets, and Internet access. These organizations include companies, banks, hospitals, schools, and lately colleges and universities. Their main reason is to maintain a high level of productivity by eliminating activities that slow down their performance such as leisurely web searching and chatting. The parents' level. Many parents do not trust the governments or ISP's filtering, and some of them need extra protection for their children from harmful materials whether through searching, massaging, or chatting, so they install commercially available software on their computers.

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Internet Filtering: Protection or Censorship

Internet filtering is considered by many people as necessary for the protection of children, minors, and even adults from harmful materials such

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Fundamentally, internet freedom stems from the principles of freedom of expression enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and human rights law. On this basis, the US opposes the efforts of non-democratic governments to misuse the internet to restrict freedom of expression or to track and prosecute dissidents. Promoting access to information over the Internet can advance the goals of good governance, economic development, support for innovation, and a vibrant civil society. Most of the sites targeted for blocking in the Middle East, for example, are selected because of cultural and religious concerns about morality. Political filtering, however, is the common denominator in the region. Bahrain, Jordan, Libya, and Syria focus their filtering efforts primarily on political content. Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, on the other hand, not only extensively filter political content but also pervasively block content that is perceived to be religiously, culturally, or socially inappropriate. Regional and internal political conflicts are also behind content blocking. For example, Syria and the United Arab Emirates block all Web sites within the Israeli domain. Morocco blocks Web sites arguing for the independence of Western Sahara. Internet censorship in the Middle East and North Africa is multilayered, relying on a number of complementary strategies in addition to technical filtering; arrest, intimidation, and a variety of legal measures are used to regulate the posting and viewing of Internet content [11]. Many intellectuals see the problem from a political point of view. They argue that the United States of America is the strongest advocate of democracy and freedom all over the world. The US is encouraging and enforcing democracy and freedom on developing countries, pressuring other regimes to adopt them, and taking punitive measures against countries that are considered undemocratic or oppressing their people by preventing them from freely accessing information among other things. At the same time the US is the strongest supplier of the majority of Internet filtering software to antidemocratic regimes to help them prevent their citizen from the freedom to access information freely and consequently denying them their intellectual freedom. The majority of the ISPs in the Middle East, for example, rely on commercial filtering software, primarily titles produced by U.S.-based companies Secure Computing and Websense.

While some people criticize the US for having double standards when it comes to developing countries, others believe that these filtering software are mainly designed to protect children, minors and others from harmful materials, but some developing countries are using these software to block access to political websites that are developed by the opposition groups and this is considered misuse. To one degree or another, some Middle Eastern countries such as the Gulf States, Iran, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen, block content related to pornography, homosexuality, dating, and provocative attire. Some of these countries also censor topics considered sensitive or forbidden under Islam, such as gambling, alcohol, and drugs, along with Web sites that feature nudity, even if in a non-erotic context. A few countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, ban access to Web sites that are critical of Islam and those that promote conversion to Christianity. While no one can object to the filtering and blocking of pornography, hate, violence and terror sites on the Internet, many warn against expanding the use of these software to oppress people and prevent them from exercising their rights of free access to information as part of their intellectual freedom.

The Counter Measures

Six decades ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stated that, "Everyone has the right to information, to freedom of opinion and expression. And this includes the right to freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers." These rights were reaffirmed in 2003 and 2005 by the more than 170 governments at the UNs World Summit on the Information Society. These governments reaffirm their commitment to work with all stakeholders to determine the best diplomatic and technological strategies to protect these rights in practice so that people throughout the world can freely participate via the Internet in the global marketplace of ideas [12]. For these reasons, new software programs have been developed to help people avoid censorship by enabling them to operate online anonymously. The California-based company Anonymizer specializes in developing technology that helps people protect their online identity by preventing

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other computers from being able to identify the users computers Internet Protocol (IP) address. Another software program, called Free Net, is intended to make a person invisible on the Web. Free Net is decentralized, which means there is no central server and no one knows whos using it so it cannot be blocked. Proxy.org is also the pragmatic Web surfer's guide to online privacy and anonymous web surfing. It gives people the information and tools they need to be confident and in command of their Web surfing experience. It also makes available information on the latest privacy issues facing Web consumers and links to relevant privacy technology. Proxy.org has the most comprehensive list of working proxies in the most convenient form.

[4] Filtering Inherent flaws. (2007). Open Net Initiative (ONI). Available at: http://opennet.net/about-filtering [5] Villeneuve, Nart. (2006). The filtering matrix: Integrated mechanisms of information control and the demarcation of borders in cyberspace. First Monday. Available at: http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue11_1/villeneuv e/index.html [6] Oram, Andy. (1998). Year-end Worldwide Round-up on Internet Censorship. American Reporter. Available at: http://www.praxagora.com/ andyo/ar/roundup_censor.html [7] Walker, Carolee. (2006). Online Filtering and Censorship at Issue on the Internet. Available at: http://usinfo.state.gov/dhr/Archive/2006/May/23 -489666.html [8] Blau, John. (2007). Governments filtering of online contents is on the rise. Available at: http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/05/18/gove rnments-filter-online-content_1.html [9] Deibert, Ronald. (2006). The Geopolitics of Asian Cyberspace. Far Eastern Economic Review. Available at: http://www.feer.com/articles1/2006/0612/free/p0 22.html [10] Parental-control filters sometimes come with your ISP. (2007). Available at: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/ parental-control-software/review.html [11] Noman, Helmi and Zarwan, Elijah. (2007). Global Internet Filtering: Middle East and North Africa. Available at: http://opennet.net/ research/regions/mena [12] Shiner, Josette S. (2006). Why Global Internet Freedom Matters. Available at: http://www.state.gov:80/e/rls/rm/2006/65977.ht m [13] Zittrain, Jonathan. (2003). Internet Points of Control. Boston College Law Review, 43(1). 136. Available at: http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract_id=388860

Conclusion
John Palfrey, executive director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School summarized the issue by stating that whether Internet filtering is good or bad is an "open question," Palfrey said. "Some people would say that certain kinds of information should be banned." Even the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects freedom of speech, "has restrictions," he added. The most worrisome outcome is one in which filtering creeps into the system in an ad hoc way, without formal evaluation of the standards by which it is taking place or the criteria by which ISPs choose to accede to such filtering when the requests are informal, or an ability to fully evaluate the nature of the sites filtered [13].

REFERENCES
[1] About Filtering. (2007). Open Net Initiative (ONI). Available at: http://opennet.net/aboutfiltering [2] What to look for in Internet Filter Software. (2007). Available at: http://internet-filterreview.toptenreviews.com/ [3] Internet Filter Report. (2008). Available at: http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/

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