NEELIN VIEWS: Digital rights are human rights

The internet was once a boundless space for free exchange, yet World Day Against Cyber Censorship reminds us how easily those freedoms can be restricted.

Thursday marks the 18th anniversary of World Day Against Cyber Censorship after it was created in 2008 by Reporters Without Borders (an international non-governmental organization that defends journalists and media assistants) to advocate for free, open, and accessible internet for everyone. The purpose of the day is to show that the internet is a free space, not a tool where everything is controlled.

On World Day Against Cyber Censorship, people advocate for a free and open internet by protesting online (using hashtags on social media, signing petitions, and using VPNs to bypass restrictions), supporting organizations like Reporters Without Borders, and celebrating their digital freedom. Every year on March 12, an award called the Netizen Prize (introduced in 2010 by Reporters Without Borders) is given out to journalists and bloggers that have made significant contributions to defending online free speech.

But if nothing is censored on the internet, what is stopping a child from seeing something that is inappropriate? A safety concern for youth is that they will see something that will have a lasting effect on them. Moderation is something that keeps the internet safe for kids to browse, and without it, children would be exposed to media that covers mature topics.

From another perspective, too much censorship undermines the very idea of the internet, which is to be a source of information to people who otherwise would not know of the news.

Recently, many apps have started using artificial intelligence to moderate what people are posting and doing. These non-human systems often falsely ban or suspend accounts, and though AI is much more efficient in moderation, it often makes mistakes.

In an article published on the McGill Business Law Platform, Ben Delaney talks about the good and the bad aspects of AI moderation. While people are moderating, they might see graphic content that has a lasting effect on them. Many human moderators have spoken about this issue, and it got to the point that some people have filed lawsuits against companies for lack of support. Using AI would guarantee that moderation would happen without someone being affected by seeing something triggering. A more negative issue is that AI is weaker at detecting bullying, harassment and hate speech. While human moderators excel at being able to understand the emotions that are hidden behind the text on the screen, AI struggles with doing so.

The internet will only remain open and accessible if people actively defend it. World Day Against Cyber Censorship is a reminder that digital rights are human rights. By supporting organizations like Reporters Without Borders, staying informed, and speaking up online, individuals can help shape a safer and more open digital world. The future of the internet depends on the actions we take today.

» Marie Lychuk is a Grade 10 student at École Secondaire Neelin High School.