Censorship in Contemporary Russia Essay Example

Privacy is a basic human want. A need. One cannot live a life when constantly monitored and fed false information. The tyrannical authority found in 1984 by George Orwell, strips down all barriers of privacy and individuality to make all citizens pawns of the Party and Big Brother, the ruling figures of Oceania. In parallel with the totalitarian government and censorship found in 1984, the suppression of individuality and opinions in Russia shrouds the truth from opposing citizens, thus creating an adverse influence on their livelihoods.

The Russian government led by Vladimir Putin restricts access to platforms of communication to prevent revolution, subsequently diminishing the culture and socialization of Russian citizens. Telegram, a popular news and communication service in Russia, is under scrutiny for not giving up citizens’ information because the site “[offers] shelter to censored media allowing public group chats or ‘rooms’, and proposing tools to promote cultural and political events and gatherings, organize surveys, create and distribute cultural and artistic content” (Ermoshina and Musiani). This has become a threat to the Russian government in the way that they rule because it allows people to share ideas on a large scale that do not always comply with the ideals of their regime. Although this can present alarm for the government, it also gives them further opportunity to gain control despite distancing their citizens farther from access to creativity and culture. The Russian government and Putin have not gone forward in the blocking in the use of Telegram since “[it] is also a vital conduit for Kremlin propagandists, analysts say” (Bajak and Ortutay). There are always two sides to each coin. With access to a platform of this scale, it would be foolish for the Russian government to pass up this opportunity of mass notice. Although Telegram has not been banned, it is heavily monitored and repressed between the rules of the commanding party while being used to pump out regime propaganda, thus diluting the use for the site’s use of individualism. The censorship continues further beyond just Russian social media.

Freedoms are promised by the Russian government, but they then persecute any individuals that express anti-regime opinions which then impedes personal privileges. Freedomhouse, a non-profit organization assesses the freedom of countries based on rights, democracy, and more. The organization has concluded that “Although the constitution provides for freedom of speech, vague laws on extremism grant the authorities great discretion to crack down on any speech, organization, or activity that lacks official support” (“Freedomhouse: Russia”). Not only is the government deciding to censor their citizens from internal information, but they are also making sure the private companies and activists are not allowed to provide any new information about outside affairs, or different points of view on internal issues. This leads to citizens forming their opinions based solely on the selected information and altered viewpoint of the party, thus not allowing them to express their unique ideas or see the whole truth. Furthermore, the Russian regime is blatantly set up to prevent any uprising or opposition to their rule since, according to Richard Mitchell a Ph.D. professor studying censorship, and Dingxin Zhao a sociologist at the University of Chicago, “It is plausible that authoritarian regimes would be concerned about preventing collective action since a group that assembles for any purpose can become a revolutionary force under the right conditions” (qtd. in Crabtree et al. 9). Revolution and uprising is the last thing that Russia wants to appear under their rule, so these tactics of suppression of information likely are to ensure that their citizens do not become too informed about the regime and freedoms outside of the regime. If their citizens do not know what freedoms they should be entitled to, there would be no reason for them to show opposition. Russian citizens then have to live a life of submission to the rules that have been applied to them. This suppression continues to report on conflicts initiated by Russia, of which they control the news output.

Russia has taken the censorship of information to the next level by feeding citizens false coverage on large-scale conflicts to retain their sense of integrity. Russia must maintain a ruling where they place themselves on a pedestal of which they believe that they are never in the wrong. That sentiment is passed down to their citizens, like the case “In March 2014, access to six websites [where] individuals organizing protests against Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and pages of Ukrainian rights groups on Russia’s largest social media site—were shut off” (Duffy 4). Putin would not want his perception to be tainted by revealing that Russia’s takeover of Crimea was that of a forceful military incorporated attack rather than a peaceful agreement. They must maintain the idea that all of their endeavors are for the greater good, even when it costs the innocent lives of the opposition. Rather than allowing Russian citizens information, Troianovski, the Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times, recounts that “The government said it would block access to Russian-language media produced outside the country: the websites of the Voice of America, the BBC, etc” (Troianovski). The reason for this mass blocking: Russia claims that these sources spew false information about the ‘special military operation in Ukraine’. Claiming that the unbiased opinions and distribution of factual information by outside media sources is indeed the false point of view shows the true length that Russia will go to maintain its political image. This constant ego battle between Russia and the media has now started to affect the livelihoods of Russian citizens, as Russia has declared war with Ukraine while persecuting citizens and media that protest the violence. Realistically, it is not truly a battle between these powers, it is a battle between manipulation and liberty of Russian citizens.

The overruling censorship of truth and manipulation found in Russia strips its citizens from having basic freedoms. A life where information is contorted to ensure the following of a regime does not provide a person with the liberties to have a fully autonomous and free livelihood. The constant hypocritical claims of providing the true information to citizens create a nation of ill-informed inhabitants stripped of their individuality, uniqueness, and culture. They are living their lives with the likes of Putin constantly peering over their shoulders and scrutinizing their every move.