What is Censorship?

As a term, censorship is dated back to the censor office in Rome established in 443 BCE. An officer used to conduct the census and used to regulate the morals of counted ad classified citizens. However, today censorship refers to research, alteration, repression or denial of speech or writing which is considered as common good distraction. Censorship occurs to some degree in many manifestations of authority. However today there is a special significance of censorship in relation to the rule of law and government.

Some of the definitions of censorship are:

• Supervision as well as control of the ideas and information which is circulated among people. It can be the examination and supervision of films, books, television broadcast, plays, periodicals, news reports, or any other form of communication media. If any piece of information is considered offensive or objectionable, it is altered or prohibited to be spread.
• It is the official restriction and prohibition of any form of expression which is objectionable and which can threaten the social, political, and moral order of society. The authorities imposing censorship can be government institute, religious body, local body, or national body. It might be implemented by a powerful and strong private group.