The country summaries that follow offer a
synopsis of the findings and conclusions of
OpenNet Initiative (ONI) research into each of the
countries. The summaries also provide a basic
framework for considering the factors influencing
countries’ decision to filter or abstain from filtering the Internet, as well as the impact, relevance,
and efficacy of technical filtering in a broader
context of Internet censorship.
These summaries cover the countries where
ONI conducted both testing and analysis in 2006.
As noted in chapter 1, countries selected for indepth analysis are those in which it was believed
that there was the most to learn about the extent
and processes of Internet filtering. Many countries known to filter the Internet, including many in
Europe and North America, were not subject
to testing because their practices are well documented elsewhere. ONI plans to conduct
in-depth analysis on an expanded number of
countries in future years.
Each country summary includes the summary results of the empirical testing for filtering.
The technical filtering data alone, however, do not
amount to a complete picture of Internet censorship and content regulation. A wide range of policies relating to media, speech, and expression
also act to restrict expression on the Internet and
online community formation, as discussed in
chapter 2. Legal and regulatory frameworks,
including Internet law, the state of Internet access
and infrastructure, the level of economic development, and the quality of governance institutions are central to determining which countries
resort to filtering and how they choose to implement Internet content controls. Therefore a brief
overview of each of these factors is included in
the each of the country summaries. Together,
these sections are intended to offer a concise,
accurate, and unbiased overview of Internet filtering and content regulation.
As described in chapter 1, each country is
given a score on a five-point scale presented in
the Results-at-a-Glance box. The scores reflect
the observed level of filtering in each of four
themes:
• Political: This category is focused primarily
on Web sites that express views in opposition to those of the current government.
Content more broadly related to human
rights, freedom of expression, minority
rights, and religious movements is also
considered here.
• Social: This group covers material related to
sexuality, gambling, and illegal drugs and
alcohol, as well as other topics that may be
socially sensitive or perceived as offensive.
• Conflict/security: Content related to armed
conflicts, border disputes, separatist movements, and militant groups is included in
this category.
• 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:
• Pervasive filtering: Filtering that 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.
Introduction to the
Country Summaries
synopsis of the findings and conclusions of
OpenNet Initiative (ONI) research into each of the
countries. The summaries also provide a basic
framework for considering the factors influencing
countries’ decision to filter or abstain from filtering the Internet, as well as the impact, relevance,
and efficacy of technical filtering in a broader
context of Internet censorship.
These summaries cover the countries where
ONI conducted both testing and analysis in 2006.
As noted in chapter 1, countries selected for indepth analysis are those in which it was believed
that there was the most to learn about the extent
and processes of Internet filtering. Many countries known to filter the Internet, including many in
Europe and North America, were not subject
to testing because their practices are well documented elsewhere. ONI plans to conduct
in-depth analysis on an expanded number of
countries in future years.
Each country summary includes the summary results of the empirical testing for filtering.
The technical filtering data alone, however, do not
amount to a complete picture of Internet censorship and content regulation. A wide range of policies relating to media, speech, and expression
also act to restrict expression on the Internet and
online community formation, as discussed in
chapter 2. Legal and regulatory frameworks,
including Internet law, the state of Internet access
and infrastructure, the level of economic development, and the quality of governance institutions are central to determining which countries
resort to filtering and how they choose to implement Internet content controls. Therefore a brief
overview of each of these factors is included in
the each of the country summaries. Together,
these sections are intended to offer a concise,
accurate, and unbiased overview of Internet filtering and content regulation.
As described in chapter 1, each country is
given a score on a five-point scale presented in
the Results-at-a-Glance box. The scores reflect
the observed level of filtering in each of four
themes:
• Political: This category is focused primarily
on Web sites that express views in opposition to those of the current government.
Content more broadly related to human
rights, freedom of expression, minority
rights, and religious movements is also
considered here.
• Social: This group covers material related to
sexuality, gambling, and illegal drugs and
alcohol, as well as other topics that may be
socially sensitive or perceived as offensive.
• Conflict/security: Content related to armed
conflicts, border disputes, separatist movements, and militant groups is included in
this category.
• 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:
• Pervasive filtering: Filtering that 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.
Introduction to the
Country Summaries