If we consider social processes of information control such as withholding information and selective presentation, a form of censorship can sometimes be observed in propaganda, public relations and advertising, as public and private actors pursue their interest in creating positive public impressions. Think, for example, of cigarette manufacturers who hide information about the health risks of smoking or tire manufacturers who don`t know their tires are unsafe. State censorship in the region also extends to foreign publications. Various ministries and security agencies monitor foreign publications entering the country and often prohibit the distribution of publications containing unwanted content. Saudi Arabia, for example, uses one of the strictest regimes to eliminate offensive news publications. In its annual human rights report, the U.S. State Department reports that «censors may delete or redact offending articles, paste pages together, or prevent certain editions of foreign publications from entering the market.» In Tunisia, authorities imposed strict censorship against foreign publications that criticized President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali or criticized the country`s human rights record. In 1997, the Committee to Protect Journalists recorded at least 37 editions of Le Monde, the circulation of which was banned in the country alone. The practice continues to this day. Jordan and Syria were among several other countries that also actively censored foreign newspapers in the 1990s. The concept was illustrated as a pyramid of censorship,[31] designed mainly by Julian Assange with Andy Müller-Maguhn, Jacob Appelbaum and Jeremiah Zimmermann in the Cypherpunks (book). Although government censorship makes a symbolic statement, given the ubiquity and continuous improvements of mass communication technologies and the permeable nature of most social systems, it is often rather impractical beyond the short term. Of course, computer technologies can make it easier to track who a person communicates with and what material they access.

But overall, technology seems to be on the side of free speech rather than censors. Modern ease of communication, in particular remote forms whose transmission can cross national borders, such as radio, television, fax and the Internet, as well as inexpensive and relatively easy to use and conceal means such as photocopiers, scanners, audio and video recordings and printing via a computer, limit the possibilities of censors. The Internet, when available, has the potential to turn anyone into a publisher. The numerous, widespread communication on labyrinthine networks (chat rooms, bulletin boards and e-mails) is much more difficult to censor than the traditional communication of the newspaper or television station. The possession and use of photocopiers was strictly controlled in order to hinder the production and distribution of samizdat, self-published illegal books and magazines. Possession of a single samizdat manuscript, such as a book by Andrei Sinyavsky, was a serious crime that could require a visit from the KGB. Another outlet for works that did not please the authorities was publication abroad. But where in the world can citizens enjoy equal and open access to the Internet – if any? Moath al-Alwi is a prisoner of Guantanamo Bay who builds models of ships as an expression of art. Alwi does this with the few tools at his disposal, such as dental floss and shampoo bottles, and he is also allowed to use small scissors with rounded edges. Some of Alwi`s works are exhibited at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. There are also other artworks in the college created by other inmates.

The artwork on display may be the only way for some inmates to communicate with the outside world. Recently, however, things have changed. The military has developed a new policy that prohibits artwork from the Guantanamo Bay military prison from leaving prison. The artwork created by Alwi and other prisoners is now the property of the government and can be destroyed by them or disposed of in any way so that it is no longer the property of the artist. [49] In Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988), the Supreme Court ruled that school officials have broad powers to censor school newspapers. In this photo, Tammy Hawkins, editor of Hazelwood East High School, Spectrum, holds a copy of the January 14, 1988 diary. (AP Photo/James A. Finley, used with permission from The Associated Press) Self-censorship is the act of censorship or classification of one`s own speech. This is done out of fear or consideration for the sensitivities or preferences (real or perceived) of others and without overt pressure from any particular party or institution of authority.

Self-censorship is often practiced by film producers, directors, publishers, news anchors, journalists, musicians, and other types of writers, including people who use social media. [33] In contrast, when individuals or groups organize boycotts against companies that sell magazines they disapprove of, their actions are protected by the First Amendment, even though they can become extremely dangerous. Private interest groups, not the government, promulgated and enforced the infamous Hollywood blacklists during the McCarthy era. But these private censorship campaigns are best countered by groups and individuals who speak out and organize to defend the threatened expression. Film censorship is practised by different countries to varying degrees. For example, only 34 foreign films per year are allowed to be officially distributed in the strictly controlled Chinese film market. [39] Censorship by Country collects information on censorship, Internet censorship, press freedom, freedom of expression, and human rights by country and presents it in a sortable table, along with links to articles with more information.