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Unfortunately, millions of potentially misinformed people is not even the most rotten egg in the

basket of censorship. It can be argued that censorship goes against the very idea of democracy; what

is the point of information if it’s manipulated? Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of democracy,

and if we allow it to be demolished, the very foundation of democracy is in shambles. What is the

difference between a democracy and a dictatorship if citizens aren’t afforded the luxury of free

thought?

When travelling the path of censorship, one must ask, who is in charge of deciding what is
appropriate? It does not take much imagination to assume that the person in control may misuse
their power to further their agenda. There is no guarantee of accountability in this hypothetical
situation. By censoring certain information, a government can manipulate the minds of the
country’s citizens, essentially destroying any opposition, a situation that sounds more and more like
a dictatorship.

However, the other side of the debate could spin the same argument. Since we are heavily
influenced by the media, we may sometimes overlook, or outright ignore the bias or skewed
perceptions portrayed by the media. It could be said that the government is looking out for its
people, trying to protect them from prejudiced material. Since the media is driven by money, large
corporations that own media outlets may tailor information to benefit themselves.

Since media is readily available through the internet, questions can be raised about children
accessing inappropriate information. Impressionable young minds can’t differentiate between real
and make-believe, and sometimes to protect them some media should be made inaccessible to all.
This argument however, can be easily solved by age restrictions on certain websites or television
channels.

In India, the smallest comment can incite riots or spark violence. In times of tension, comments
directed towards a particular race and religion may create hysteria or panic. While the act in itself
can be condemned, there is no need of repeated air-time given to the incident. This can only incite
the masses against the said person or the organisation he/she is associated with. Such media tactics
may be used by political parties for selfish means while ignoring the greater good of society. This
can only bring unrest among the masses and disrupt the peace in society. Censorship will prevent
the public display of disrespect to any particular individual or community and promote political