Restricted Content: A Technical Guide to Internet Censorship in the Age of Social Media

Abstract

The growth of social media platforms poses new challenges to governments seeking to control information online. Many governments send content removal requests to these platforms to restrict material that it considers objectionable. This thesis outlines the technical methods of Internet censorship and examines the relationship between governments and three major Internet platforms – Facebook, Twitter, and Google – vis-à-vis content removal requests. It finds that the platforms, particularly Facebook, lack transparency about the requests they receive and their guidelines for content removal. Additionally, it uncovers trends in how 13 countries across the globe use content removal requests to rein in online conversation.