The critical question is: How do we ensure that the Internet develops in a way that is compatible with democracy?
Rebecca MackinnonRead
In China, the problem is that with the system of censorship that's now in place, the user doesn't know to what extent, why, and under what authority there's been censorship. There's no way of appealing. There's no due process.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the issues with censorship and the lack of transparency in its execution.
Rebecca Mackinnon's quote points to a critical problem in systems where censorship is prevalent: individuals are often left in the dark regarding the extent and rationale behind the censorship imposed upon them. The absence of due process and the inability to appeal these decisions not only undermine personal freedom but also raise concerns about the abuse of power and accountability in such systems.
Themes
CensorshipFreedomTransparencyDue ProcessAuthority
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the importance of free speech on social media platforms.
More from Rebecca Mackinnon
All quotes →The potential for the abuse of power through digital networks - upon which we the people now depend for nearly everything, including our politics - is one of the most insidious threats to democracy in the Internet age.
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Citizens' rights cannot be protected if their digital activities are governed and policed by opaque and publicly unaccountable corporate mechanisms.
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