In recent times we have come across another way to gain information, the internet. Even bigger and more vast then the television, news travels much faster this way. Now anything you want to know is directly at your fingers tips. We once again find ourselves involved in war in the middle east and dealing with the flow of information from the internet to everyone’s computer screens. Censorship is a major issue for tons of middle eastern countries.
Because of the internet it is even harder to control information. Over the past decade we have been involved in Afghanistan and Iraq. News reporters who go into Iraq are targeted now more then ever. The men running those countries know that they don’t need to make it home to send an article or post a video and it makes journalism even more dangerous. Information that journalists obtain can be sent from anywhere in the world. Further complicating the job of a news reporter.
“ It is well known and an accepted part of war that Iraq had attempted to control media reports, monitor foreign journalists, and even expel them (including CNN and even Al Jazeera for a while).” Global Issues
Anyone with a cell phone is now the enemy since it is that easy to have a picture escape the country and land on everyone’s news feed across the world. The Committee to Protect Journalists states that almost 200 journalist have been killed during the recent war, most of them are Iraqi citizens. A lot of middle eastern countries have laws against free press and most of the information that is presented to the citizens is censored. The people in power make sure they control what is news.
“In Iraq, 230 media workers have been killed since the US-led invasion in 2003, Reporters Without Borders say…The figure includes a number of foreign reporters, but the overwhelming majority of journalists who are targeted are Iraqis, who continue to do their jobs despite huge risks, says the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad.”BBC News
The governments in these countries see any opinions or ideas that differ from what they deem appropriate are a sign of rebellion. They do not want anyone getting the idea that speaking out against them is okay. Since the internet is harder to sensor then a newspaper or a TV network sometimes they must go to extremes to keep people quiet.
In an article on EFF.org it explains all the proposed laws that Lebanon and Iraq are trying to instate in order to censor and keep tabs on the internet. They state that any information seen to “disrupt” the “unity” of the state or “ideas which are disruptive to public order” are punishable by “mandatory life sentences“. These are very general statements and can be used against anyone who they think is disagreeing with them.
As time goes on, will it become worse for war reporters? It will only get harder to protect your identity as a journalist. If we can find information on them it is just as easy for them to find us. However it will never stop the flow of news and information no matter how hard they try.