1 February 2006
Report Highlights Growing Threat of Soft Censorship
31 January 2006
A growing number of governments around the world are using more subtle and sophisticated methods of controlling the media and suppressing criticism, creating serious and widespread chilling effects comparable to violence against journalists or draconian libel laws, according to a report by the Open Society Institute's Justice Initiative.
"The Growing Threat of Soft Censorship" documents a growing phenomenon in many countries where governments are using new methods to silence critics, including withdrawing advertising, or pressuring distributors and printers.
Compared with more "traditional" methods of beating and detaining journalists or setting fire to media houses, these techniques are more difficult for free expression groups to expose. They also do not receive the same degree of attention they deserve from civil society, democratic governments and international institutions, says the report.
The OSI report recommends better monitoring and research of the phenomenon, the development of legal remedies to counter soft censorship and more coordination between free expression groups to share experiences and develop joint campaigns.
The full report is available at: http://www.justiceinitiative.org/db/resource2/fs/?file_id=16599
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