With each passing year, the internet has penetrated the very fabric of cultures over the world, increasing its exposure and accessibility to a wide range of communities who were otherwise isolated to it. The internet provided a two way platform where individuals voiced their opinions, and the ability to access vast amounts of information relevant to their community, their country and their world.

As the internet’s influence in all walks of life became better understood, many governments slowly began to limit their citizens’ use of it – limiting the individual’s ability to access the internet and to the information contained therein.

This phenomenon was observed in all types of communities alike - western and eastern governments, democracies and non-democracies, secular and religious communities, etc., where each group has its own interests – maintaining varying levels of ethical and moral standards, political stability, economic and religious interests and more.

Just as there are many reasons to limit the internet’s accessibility and use, so there are ways and means to do so – limiting technological advancements, economic sanctions through high prices, limiting laws and regulations, religious sanctions, and even incarceration.

The purpose of this web site is to systematically monitor, collect, document and report on an on going basis any and all information regarding internet filtering – a community’s efforts to limit the access and use of the internet as imposed on its members, including incarceration.

I hope that this site will be an efficient and effective tool to any and all interested parties, particularly to those who hold the personal freedom, freedom of expression as one of the highest of human values – particularly when using the internet as a viable vehicle of information.

I encourage you, the reader, to share with us your comments, suggestions, and any relevant information of interest.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tal Pavel