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Internet and Morality

Should the Government Censor the Internet?

     The “Chorus” was a part of the theater in ancient Greece. There was a small body of men, now 12 now 15 now 25, who would not be in the play, but would stand apart and occasionally interject commentaries about the play, wherever the playwright would assign them. These commentaries were directed to the audience and were recited poetically or sung. All of us run the risk of being that “chorus” in the world today, sitting on the side, not involved, but always ready with a commentary on what’s going on.

     One of the “theaters” in our world today is the internet. It has had an impact similar to the Guttenberg press by supplying more words and images to more people more quickly. It’s not just a thing for teens anymore: adults and even elderly are deeply involved with the internet, with e-mail, buying and selling on line, with blog sites (weblog, something like “diaries” on the internet), and so much more.

     The whole planet is involved with the most wide spread exchange between individuals and institutions ever seen in the history of the world due to the internet.

     Many of us have read in the news the interesting fact that in China, however, the communist government has imposed censorship on the internet. The government wants to prevent the people from viewing internet sites that advertise, philosophize or promote freedom. American internet companies have collaborated, so as to avoid censorship, and have a greater audience. This cultural conflict has causes a flurry of news, editorials and ferocious debates: is this censorship or the act of a government with which we, who live elsewhere, should not interfere.

     I recently heard one many say that the internet is the place for the “exchange of goods and information,” and draw the conclusion that censorship would repress freedom.

     He did not define the problem correctly. For there aren’t just “goods and information” on the internet, but “evils and misinformation.” On the internet one finds food, clothing, hardware, even cars and houses. One finds and endless plethora of religious and philosophical dialogue. One finds education, culture, and wholesome recreation.

     But these aren’t the only things that one finds. There are graver problems, such as matter of the most horrendous and violent forms of lust and impurity. One finds web sites dedicated to leading people out of the faith. One finds plenty of opportunity for robbery. These things are destructive of persons, families, institutions and societies.

     If on the internet we find both good and evil, both falsehood and truth, both ugliness and beauty, both division and unity, the only answer we can come to is that one has to use the internet in a morally correct way. And to act in a morally correct way, one needs something called virtue.

     China, now, has a communist government. Communism is intrinsically evil, as it denies both the spiritual side of man as well as the right to private property; furthermore, its totalitarian form has perpetrated, countless evils against men. How can an intrinsically evil government use virtue in governing the internet? I do not think it is possible, unless it happen by luck.

     It is equally foolish either to expect any government to remove all the moral risks found on the internet, or to say that any government should be completely uninvolved.

     We therefore come to two conclusions about the internet: I myself need to employ virtue when using the internet, and I need to responsible get involved to eliminate many of the evils that afflict my family, my nation, my world through the internet, and to do so with the right intention, which is the love of God above all things, and the love of neighbor as myself.

     We will discuss the internet and morality again in the future.