Because the U.S. is so adamant about its first amendment right to free speech, the idea of internet censorship hasn't been much of a concern to me. However, what I've failed to take into account is the real meaning behind the following words: World Wide Web. In fact the material I am able to view is also viewable everywhere else there is a computer in the world, which for some governments is less than ideal. Not only have governments like China and Cuba placed tight restrictions on internet access through issuing permits and creating “The Great Firewall of China,” but international legal battles have been sparked by controversial material. The U.S. is currently embattled with France over Nazi memorabilia auctioned off by Yahoo! Tunisia--along with Syria, South Korea, Burma, the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives--blocks mostly pornography and politically oriented websites from public viewing. However, Tunisia goes so far as to ban access to translation services. For grassroots social movement in the countries that need it most, it seems that the internet (a cheap and easy resource) would be ideal to communicate with the world. Looking into this further, one finds a much lengthier article on Internet activism than on Internet censorship. The internet is responsible for the emergence and growing popularity of many communities, and these same resources are helping social organizations get their message out and mobilize. This has proven successful in instances like the WTO protests in Seattle and campaign fundraising. On the other hand, the low literacy rates in developing countries don’t allow those who need it most to use the internet as effectively.