3. Conflict and security: Content related to armed conflicts, border disputes, separatist
movements, and militant groups is included in this category.
4. Internet tools: Web sites that provide e-mail, Internet hosting, search, translation,
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service, and circumvention methods
are grouped in this category.
The relative magnitude of filtering for each of the four themes is defined as follows:
1. Pervasive filtering is characterized by both its depth—a blocking regime that blocks a
large portion of the targeted content in a given category—and its breadth—a blocking
regime that includes filtering in several categories in a given theme.
2. Substantial filtering has either depth or breadth: either a number of categories are
subject to a medium level of filtering, or a low level of filtering is carried out across
many categories.
3. Selective filtering is narrowly targeted filtering that blocks a small number of specific
sites across a few categories or filtering that targets a single category or issue.
4. Suspected filtering is indicated when connectivity abnormalities are present that suggest the presence of filtering, although diagnostic work was unable to confirm conclusively that inaccessible Web sites are the result of deliberate tampering.
5. No evidence of filtering: ONI testing did not uncover any evidence of Web sites being
blocked.
The ‘‘Results at a Glance’’ table also includes a measure (low, medium, or high) of the
observed transparency and consistency of blocking patterns. The transparency score
given to each country is a qualitative measure based on the level at which the country
openly engages in filtering. In cases where filtering takes place without open acknowledgment, or where the practice of filtering is actively disguised to appear as network
errors, the transparency score is low. In assigning the transparency score, we have also
considered the presence of provisions to appeal inappropriate blocking or report
instances of it. Consistency measures the variation in filtering within a country across
different ISPs—in some cases the availability of specific Web pages differs significantly
depending on the ISP one uses to connect to the Internet.
An aggregate view of the level of development for each country is represented by the
results of the first four indexes presented in the ‘‘Key Indicators’’ table: gross domestic
product per capita, life expectancy, literacy rates, and the human development index.
The first three measures are drawn from the World Bank development indicators
data set. The GDP measure, which captures the ability to purchase a standard basket
of consumer goods, is expressed in constant 2005 international dollars. Life expectancy
can be seen as a proxy for general health, and literacy an imperfect but reasonable indication of the quality of education. The human development index is constructed by
the United Nations Development Program to reflect overall human well-being.
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Introduction to the Country Profiles
movements, and militant groups is included in this category.
4. Internet tools: Web sites that provide e-mail, Internet hosting, search, translation,
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service, and circumvention methods
are grouped in this category.
The relative magnitude of filtering for each of the four themes is defined as follows:
1. Pervasive filtering is characterized by both its depth—a blocking regime that blocks a
large portion of the targeted content in a given category—and its breadth—a blocking
regime that includes filtering in several categories in a given theme.
2. Substantial filtering has either depth or breadth: either a number of categories are
subject to a medium level of filtering, or a low level of filtering is carried out across
many categories.
3. Selective filtering is narrowly targeted filtering that blocks a small number of specific
sites across a few categories or filtering that targets a single category or issue.
4. Suspected filtering is indicated when connectivity abnormalities are present that suggest the presence of filtering, although diagnostic work was unable to confirm conclusively that inaccessible Web sites are the result of deliberate tampering.
5. No evidence of filtering: ONI testing did not uncover any evidence of Web sites being
blocked.
The ‘‘Results at a Glance’’ table also includes a measure (low, medium, or high) of the
observed transparency and consistency of blocking patterns. The transparency score
given to each country is a qualitative measure based on the level at which the country
openly engages in filtering. In cases where filtering takes place without open acknowledgment, or where the practice of filtering is actively disguised to appear as network
errors, the transparency score is low. In assigning the transparency score, we have also
considered the presence of provisions to appeal inappropriate blocking or report
instances of it. Consistency measures the variation in filtering within a country across
different ISPs—in some cases the availability of specific Web pages differs significantly
depending on the ISP one uses to connect to the Internet.
An aggregate view of the level of development for each country is represented by the
results of the first four indexes presented in the ‘‘Key Indicators’’ table: gross domestic
product per capita, life expectancy, literacy rates, and the human development index.
The first three measures are drawn from the World Bank development indicators
data set. The GDP measure, which captures the ability to purchase a standard basket
of consumer goods, is expressed in constant 2005 international dollars. Life expectancy
can be seen as a proxy for general health, and literacy an imperfect but reasonable indication of the quality of education. The human development index is constructed by
the United Nations Development Program to reflect overall human well-being.
112
Introduction to the Country Profiles