Censorship is the act of suppressing or controlling speech, public communication, or other information on the grounds that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensi
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-07-16
Introduction
Censorship is the act of suppressing or controlling speech, public communication, or other information on the grounds that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient. It can be carried out by governments, private organisations, or individuals, and it has been a feature of human societies for centuries. While sometimes justified as necessary for security or public safety, censorship is often a tool of control, clashing directly with the principles of freedom of thought and expression that are fundamental to a democratic society.
Learning objectives
After reading this article, you should be able to:
- Define censorship and identify its different forms and methods.
- Explain the most common reasons why governments or other groups censor information.
- Provide historical and contemporary examples of censorship in action.
- Understand the concept of self-censorship and its "chilling effect."
- Analyse the negative impacts of censorship on individual freedom and societal progress.
What is Censorship?
At its core, censorship is about controlling what people can see, hear, read, or say. The entity doing the censoring—the censor—reviews material and decides whether it can be shared with the public. If deemed unacceptable, the material can be altered, have parts removed, or be banned entirely. This can apply to a wide range of media, including books, films, music, news reports, art, and, in the modern era, websites and social media posts. Censorship can be overt, such as a government officially banning a book, or it can be subtle, such as a news organisation choosing not to cover a certain story for fear of offending its advertisers.
Types and Motivations of Censorship
Censorship is practiced for various reasons, which can be grouped into several main categories. …