Reader survey results: SunWorld readers cringe at online censorship Find out what they really think about extremist Web postings and the responsiblities of Internet access providers, and how they define the Internet "community" By Carolyn W.C. Wong

December  1996

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The topic of online censorship is never one that is taken lightly and glossed over in conversation. Our November reader survey on free speech online certainly drew some distinct opinions about online censorship. There's no doubt that our readers are highly protective of free speech on the Internet.

While 53 percent of the 125 respondents have seen racist or extremist Usenet postings, 68 percent believe that organizations hosting Usenet servers should not be held responsible for the Usenet content on their servers. Fifty-nine percent say that these organizations should not censor offensive content either. Readers (54 percent) agree that messages should be left alone even when objections are raised by individuals.

The same can be said for Internet access providers. Sixty-six percent of the respondents would not hold Internet access providers responsible for objectionable content on their servers, and 57 percent don't believe in censorship of their Web pages.

There are, however, differing opinions on what Internet access providers should do if an individual opposes certain material on their servers. Some 48 percent say that Internet access providers should create a warning or disclaimer for the page, while 44 percent think the providers should just leave the page alone. But responses change in instances where local government or law enforcement agencies become involved. Forty-two percent of the respondents say Internet access providers should leave offensive pages alone if these government or enforcement agencies object to certain materials, and 36 percent believe a warning or disclaimer for the page would be in order. Overseas government or law enforcement agencies should have the least affect on restricting objectionable content. 63 percent of the readers think the providers shouldn't take any action when such foreign agencies voice objections.

The picture changes drastically in the corporate realm -- 57 percent of the respondents would hold corporations responsible for content produced by employees and 66 percent feel that censorship is appropriate here. Thirty-one precent of the respondents agree that Web pages should be modified or censored if someone objects to specific content, while 36 percent believe that creating a disclaimer or warning for the page is sufficient. 30 percent would still want the company to leave the page alone.

Be sure to read extensive comments from our survey respondents about how they would modify offensive pages in "Readers comment on free speech online" and about how they define the Internet community in "What is the Internet's `community?'".

--Carolyn W.C. Wong

1. Have you seen racist or extremist Web pages?

       Yes:                                              32.5% 
       No:                                               42.3% 
   

2. Have you seen racist or extremist Usenet postings?

       Yes:                                              53.3% 
       No:                                               20.8% 
   

3. Have you created racist or extremist Usenet postings or Web pages?

       Yes:                                               0.0% 
       No:                                               74.8% 
   

4. Should organizations (universities, Internet access providers, and large corporations) hosting Usenet news servers be held responsible for the Usenet content available on their servers?

       Yes:                                               6.5% 
       No:                                               68.3% 
   

5. Should organizations hosting Usenet news servers filter or otherwise censor Usenet groups known to carry content that it considers objectionable?

       Yes:                                              15.6% 
       No:                                               59.0% 
   

6. Should organizations hosting Usenet news servers allow only adults to access its servers?

       Yes:                                              11.7% 
       No:                                               62.5%
   

7. What action should an organization hosting a Usenet news server take when a member, customer, or employee objects to a specific message?

       Remove the message:                                5.1% 
       Leave the message alone:                          54.2% 
       Appoint a committee to decide:                    15.3% 
   

8. Should an Internet access provider be held responsible for the Web content available on its servers?

       Yes:                                               9.9% 
       No:                                               66.1% 
   

9. Should an Internet access provider censor Web pages it considers objectionable?

       Yes:                                              19.0% 
       No:                                               57.0% 
   

10. Should an Internet access provider allow only adults to access its servers?

        Yes:                                              14.3% 
        No:                                               85.7%
    

11. What action should an Internet access provider take when a private individual objects to a Web page on its servers?

        Remove the Web page:                               0.0% 
        Modify/censor the Web page:                        7.9% 
        Create a warning or disclaimer for the page:      48.3% 
        Leave the page alone:                             43.8% 
    

12. What action should an Internet access provider take when a local government or law enforcement agency objects to a Web page on its servers?

        Remove the Web page:                               6.7% 
        Modify/censor the Web page:                       15.7% 
        Create a warning or disclaimer for the page:      36.0% 
        Leave the page alone:                             41.6% 
    

13. What action should an Internet access provider take when an overseas government or law enforcement agency objects to a Web page on its servers?

        Remove the Web page:                               2.2% 
        Modify/censor the Web page:                        7.9%
        Create a warning or disclaimer for the page:      27.0% 
        Leave the page alone:                             62.9% 
    

14. Should a college or university be held responsible for the Web content (produced by students or faculty) available on its servers?

        Yes:                                              20.9% 
        No:                                               79.1%
    

15. Should an college or university censor Web pages produced by students or faculty it considers objectionable?

        Yes:                                              30.3% 
        No:                                               69.7% 
    

16. Should an college or university allow only adults to access its servers?

        Yes:                                              11.2% 
        No:                                               88.8% 
    

17. What action should a college or university take when a private individual objects to a Web page on its servers?

        Remove the Web page:                               1.2% 
        Modify/censor the Web page:                       11.8% 
        Create a warning or disclaimer for the page:      37.6% 
        Leave the page alone:                             49.4% 
    

18. What action should a college or university take when a local government or law enforcement agency objects to a Web page on its servers?

        Remove the Web page:                               8.0%
        Modify/censor the Web page:                       19.3% 
        Create a warning or disclaimer for the page:      34.1% 
        Leave the page alone:                             38.6% 
    

19. What action should a college or university take when an overseas government or law enforcement agency objects to a Web page on its servers?

        Remove the Web page:                               3.3% 
        Modify/censor the Web page:                       10.0% 
        Create a warning or disclaimer for the page:      26.7% 
        Leave the page alone:                             60.0% 
    

20. Should a corporation (e.g., General Motors, IBM, or Coca Cola) be held responsible for the Web content (produced by employees) available on its servers?

        Yes:                                              57.1% 
        No:                                               42.9% 
    

21. Should a corporation censor Web pages produced by employees it considers objectionable?

        Yes:                                              65.6% 
        No:                                               34.4% 
    

22. Should a corporation allow only adults to access its servers?

        Yes:                                              15.6% 
        No:                                               84.4% 
    

23. What action should a corporation take when a private individual objects to a Web page on its servers?

        Remove the Web page:                               3.4% 
        Modify/censor the Web page:                       30.7% 
        Create a warning or disclaimer for the page:      36.4% 
        Leave the page alone:                             29.5% 
    

24. What action should a corporation take when a local government or law enforcement agency objects to a Web page on its servers?

        Remove the Web page:                               7.9% 
        Modify/censor the Web page:                       28.1% 
        Create a warning or disclaimer for the page:      37.1% 
        Leave the page alone:                             27.0% 
    

25. What action should a corporation take when an overseas government or law enforcement agency objects to a Web page on its servers?

        Remove the Web page:                               4.5%
        Modify/censor the Web page:                       25.0% 
        Create a warning or disclaimer for the page:      33.0% 
        Leave the page alone:                             37.5% 
    

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URL: http://www.sunworld.com/swol-12-1996/swol-12-speech.results.html
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