Comparative Analysis of Media Censorship in China and the USA

This essay provides a comparative analysis of media censorship in China and the United States, examining the different approaches and levels of control exerted by each government. The introduction highlights the global issue of internet censorship, with a focus on China's strict regulations and the U.S.'s protection of freedom of speech. The essay then delves into the specific areas of censorship, including the internet, news, and art. It explores China's extensive internet control, often referred to as the "Great Firewall," and its impact on citizens, as well as the U.S.'s stance on internet censorship. The essay also compares the censorship of news media, highlighting how both governments exert influence, albeit through different methods. Finally, the essay examines the censorship of art, showcasing how both countries restrict artistic expression, though the degree and methods vary. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of internet freedom and the impact of censorship on public opinion, arguing against censorship's negative effects on freedom of expression.

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Comparison between China and USA on Media
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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
China and USA- Censorship of Internet..........................................................................................4
China and USA- Censorship of News.............................................................................................5
China and USA- Censorship of Art.................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
Censorship of internet content takes place in many shapes ranging from government blocking the
dissemination of political opinion to blacklisting the pornographic & private website. According
to ONI data, Iran is ranked as the world’s worst country in term of filtering political, social and
internet tools. After Iran, China was ranked due to strict rules relating to social and internet tools.
On April 12, Chinese users were cut off from international websites, probably due to a
reconfiguration of the firewall. In 2014, China stood at number third from last place for internet
censorship (Linder, 2016.). On the other hand, The U.S. possesses protection of freedom of
speech and expression in opposition to federal, state, and local government censorship. US
provide ample of freedom in terms of media. These fortifications expand to the Internet, though;
the U.S. government has suppressed websites. While comparing the media censorship with
China, USA has more liberty and allows audience to have a free access. As per the report
published by “Reporters without Border” United States stands at 41st place in the world out of
180 countries in requisites to their Press Freedom Index from 2016; whereas Reporters without
Borders has mentioned China's press position as "very serious". They have rated it worst on their
five-point scale (Xu, Mao and Halderman, 2011).

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China and USA- Censorship of Internet
Internet censorship in China is severe due to a wide mixture of laws and administrative
regulations. The Government has created More than sixty Internet regulations which have been
implemented by local branches of state-owned ISPs, companies. China Internet control policy is
considered to be more extensive and more sophisticated than in any other country in the world.
The governmental authorities in China not only block website content but also watch the Internet
access of persons. Due to this the China internet is referred "The Great Firewall of China." As
reported by the Amnesty International “China has the largest documentation number of
imprisoned journalists and cyber-protester in the world"(Guo and Feng, 2012).
Internet censorship in the USA is the containment of in turn published or vision on the Internet in
the United States. Government possesses security of freedom of speech and expression against
federal, state, and local government censorship. Censorship is still alive and finely practiced in
the United States. The Government is supposed to behave cleverly in term of providing freedom
of free internet usage. “Western efforts to “organize” the Internet meantime have gained Chinese
solutions over time. Western governments, together with the United States, show stepping efforts
to censor Internet search results as per the “transparency report" published by Google
(Robbinson, 2017).
China and USA- Censorship of News
Media organizations are supposed to meet the public interest. Occasionally that's at probability
with the corporation owners who manage conventional media voices. Media censorship reminds
of the government way to alter or ban the news. In USA, even the government bodies are raising
censorship issues by keeping little news from reaching to the public. In the recent time, the

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outburst of citizen journalism and internet stage has created a way for the news to reach people
in a much easier way. Recently The National Press Club has condemned Donald Trump’s
barring selected media outlets from a White House press conference. This is a true incidence of
an unparalleled act “intensely distressing” (Flew, 2007).
The government in China is banning the rights of news house to converse information. They
have full control over the website and in case in any of the news channel not adhering to the
guidance are banned from further publication. China’s constitution has allowed citizens to enjoy
freedom of speech and press, but the murkiness of Chinese media regulations permits authorities
to breakdown on news by asserting exposure to state secrets (Xu, 2017).
China and USA- Censorship of Art
Censorship comes in many forms. By censoring the art the government tries to restrict artists
from expressing any radical idea. Throughout 2016 & in the beginning of 2017, the United States
has seen manifold cases of censorship of art in public spaces and schools. The US government
and local bodies has been censoring Murals on public walls on policies on the productions of
plays and musicals. They have been targeted due to multiple reasons due to their content
(Chadwick and Howard, 2010).
Whereas in China, the censorship of Art is a big challenge and the prominent Chinese artists are
regularly censored and compulsory asked to comply with government restrictions. Ai Weiwei is
one of the artists who have been censored, berated, arrested, and exiled, due to his artistic career.
Their artistic careers are generally been derailed by an overzealous government. This has been
restricting free speech and free artistic appearance by the average person. Although
Globalization has hit the country increasing opportunities of Capitalism and foreign investment

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but the artists are still not free to create of their choice. First and foremost the matter related to
the politics is being mostly censored and forcefully forbidden by the government authorities
(Wise, 2016).
Conclusion
To conclude, internet is normally observed as the widely used source of exchanging information.
Nevertheless, the freedom and democracy on Internet is mostly questioned about. Pornography
and abhorrence literature are usually used to entice Internet surfers’ concentration to generate
profits. By representing the rights of the community and the authority of a state the internet
censorship has become effective. The government has the total liability to censor the internet
consequently as to defend citizens from destructive and fake information. In the recent time the
government bodies are keeping a check over the possible fester of social and ethical principles.
By Internet censorship the government in both the countries are carefully keeping an eye on the
freedom of people. Censoring the Internet would affect the public to communicate. Owners of
Internet should be acquainted with of the probable in order and public that can be established in
this medium. Censorship is not desirable as a whole in any country due to its ill-effects on public
opinion. Censorship should not be cost at the freedom of expression of people in any country.
References

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Chadwick, A. and Howard, P.N. eds., 2010. Routledge handbook of Internet politics. Taylor &
Francis.
Flew, T., 2007. New media: An introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Guo, S. and Feng, G., 2012. Understanding support for Internet censorship in China: An
elaboration of the theory of reasoned action. Journal of Chinese Political Science, 17(1), pp.33-
52.
Linder, A.2016. “China ranks dead last in internet freedom survey for second straight year”.
Viewed 18 August 2017, http://shanghaiist.com/2016/11/16/internet_freedom.php
Robbinson, P L.2017. “White House media ban is ‘unconstitutional censorship’, America's
National Press Club warns”, Viewed 18 August 2017,
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/white-house-donald-trump-media-ban-
deeply-disturbing-cnn-new-york-times-national-press-club-a7599006.html
Wise, S.2016. “10 Crazy Ways China Censors The Internet”, Viewed 18 August 2017,
http://listverse.com/2016/02/13/10-crazy-ways-china-censors-the-internet/
Xu, X., Mao, Z.M. and Halderman, J.A., 2011, March. Internet censorship in China: Where does
the filtering occur?. In International Conference on Passive and Active Network
Measurement (pp. 133-142). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Xu, B.2017. “Media Censorship in China”, Viewed 18 August 2017,
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/media-censorship-china