{"id":354,"date":"2024-06-25T16:31:30","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T15:31:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mediadefence.org\/ereader\/?post_type=publication&#038;p=354"},"modified":"2024-06-25T16:31:32","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T15:31:32","slug":"what-is-blocking-and-filtering-of-content","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/www.mediadefence.org\/ereader\/publications\/introductory-modules-on-digital-rights-and-freedom-of-expression-online\/module-3-access-to-the-internet\/what-is-blocking-and-filtering-of-content\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Blocking and Filtering of Content?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although a less drastic measure than a complete internet shutdown, the blocking and filtering of content online can also hinder the full enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blocking\/filtering has been defined as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c[T]he difference between \u201cfiltering\u201d and \u201cblocking\u201d is a matter of scale and perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Filtering is commonly associated with the use of technology that blocks pages by reference to certain characteristics, such as traffic patterns, protocols or keywords, or on the basis of their perceived connection to content deemed inappropriate or unlawful;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blocking, by contrast, usually refers to preventing access to specific websites, domains, IP addresses, protocols or services included on a blacklist.\u201d[footnote]ARTICLE 19, \u2018Freedom of expression unfiltered: How blocking and filtering affect free speech\u2019 (2016) (accessible at https:\/\/www.article19.org\/data\/files\/medialibrary\/38588\/Blocking_and_filtering_final.pdf) at p 7.[\/footnote]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There have been several examples of blocking and\/or filtering across the continent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2023 <strong>Gabon<\/strong> was reported as having blocked access to social media platforms on the day of elections. 4 days later, access was restored along with the announcement by military officers that they had taken over power of the country.[footnote]Netblocks, \u2018Internet cut in Gabon on election day\u2019 (2023) (accessible at https:\/\/netblocks.org\/reports\/internet-cut-in-gabon-on-election-day-Q8oxM3An).[\/footnote] Gabon is unfortunately far from the only African country to implement such techniques in recent years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Similar social media blocks have been implemented over election times in <strong>Zambia<\/strong>,[footnote]Netblocks, \u2018Social media and messaging apps restricted in Zambia on election day\u2019 (2021) (accessible at https:\/\/netblocks.org\/reports\/whatsapp-and-social-media-restricted-in-zambia-on-election-day-18lpLY8a).[\/footnote] <strong>Uganda<\/strong>,[footnote]Netblocks, \u2018Social media and messaging restricted, internet shut down for Uganda elections\u2019 (2021) (accessible at https:\/\/netblocks.org\/reports\/social-media-and-messaging-platforms-restricted-in-uganda-ahead-of-general-election-XB7aaO87).[\/footnote] and <strong>Cameroon<\/strong>.[footnote]Netblocks, \u2018Facebook and WhatsApp restricted in Cameroon on eve of election results\u2019 (2018) (accessible at https:\/\/netblocks.org\/reports\/facebook-and-whatsapp-restricted-in-cameroon-on-eve-of-election-results-YkArL1yj).[\/footnote]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2018, after an extensive period of blocking a long list of websites, including media outlets and prominent websites known for their reporting on protests in the country, the <strong>Ethiopian<\/strong> government unblocked 264 websites, although instances of blocking of social media occurred again in 2022.[footnote]Freedom on the Net, \u2018Ethiopia\u2019 (2022) (accessible at https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/country\/ethiopia\/freedom-net\/2022).[\/footnote]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2021, the <strong>Eswatini <\/strong>government ordered all operators to suspend access to certain social media sites as they were being used to \u201cspread misinformation\u201d contributing to violence around the country.[footnote]MISA, \u2018Eswatini shuts down internet as protests rock monarchy\u2019 (2021) (accessible at https:\/\/misa.org\/blog\/media_violations\/eswatini-shuts-down-internet-as-protests-rock-monarchy\/).[\/footnote] However, this and other internet disruptions at the time are reported to have been ordered in order to quell pro-democracy protests and reports about police brutality.[footnote]Access Now, \u2018Eswatini authorities shut down internet to quell protests, ask people to email grievances\u2019 (2021) (accessible at https:\/\/www.accessnow.org\/press-release\/keepiton-eswatini-protests\/).[\/footnote]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although a less drastic measure than a complete internet shutdown, the blocking and filtering of content online can also hinder the full enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression. Blocking\/filtering has been defined as follows: \u201c[T]he difference between \u201cfiltering\u201d and \u201cblocking\u201d is a matter of scale and perspective. There have been several examples of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":346,"menu_order":219,"template":"page-templates\/chapter.php","publication-category":[],"class_list":["post-354","publication","type-publication","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is Blocking and Filtering of Content? | eReader<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The blocking and filtering of content online can also hinder the full enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mediadefence.org\/ereader\/publications\/introductory-modules-on-digital-rights-and-freedom-of-expression-online\/module-3-access-to-the-internet\/what-is-blocking-and-filtering-of-content\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is Blocking and Filtering of Content? 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