Internet Filtering & the Law

What are the legal implications of limiting access to Internet content? In this paper, the OpenNet Initiative -- a partnership of the Citizen Lab, the University of Cambridge, and the Berkman Center -- finds that governments offer a range of justifications for blocking content, from safeguarding national security to protecting community standards. Though filtering has tremendous effects on civil liberties, governmental policymaking, and Internet governance, there are few mechanisms for examining and reforming Internet censorship. The paper emphasizes the need for transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness to maintain a reliable, efficient, and global medium for communication. Read the full report on the Legal Implications of Internet Filtering.