AI’s Role as Modern Censor — The Continued Stripping of Public Liberties*
As we cloak today's censorship in the language of protection, we risk repeating the oldest mistake of all: fearing knowledge more than ignorance.
Somewhat languored, Fogy had hoped to write about this much later with a more studied approach; however, recent events have prompted an earlier, more caustic rant.
When introducing censorship, I am thrust into multiple worlds: acceptance and contravention, social standards and fear-mongering, and the laws and legislation that support it.
Of course, my general reference here leans more toward the question of sexual orientation — or dare I say deviation, as so many of those bent on defining what can be shown, and therefore discussed, claim.
But allow me a brief side-track to intersperse some observations about nations. While this will be the subject of a future post, it is important to touch on the censorship of information contrary to political beliefs, used to maintain an integrity — not necessarily the integrity — of each regime.
But let’s move from the siding and roll full steam ahead.
Recently, while testing DeepSeek, the Chinese AI, I was confronted with an answer to one of my questions: "That subject is outside the scope of my service. Let's talk about something else."
The subject was China.
More recently, I have been stymied while using ChatGPT in my desire to create images pertinent to these posts I so carefully prepare for you. It would seem that quite strict censorship rules are in place, forcing moderation of content even when no contravention is intended.
And that is where the modern censor has it all to play for.
In ancient censorship, the questions were often about how much to cover.
See, for example, the evolution of Playboy magazine from the 1960s to today, and the work of renowned painters hiding their pornographic desires behind what was considered art at the time. Early 20th-century photography followed similar lines of artistic leniency, often helped by the relative difficulty in acquiring such works.
Today’s world is severely moderated by the same short-sightedness that colours the debate around diversity as a whole:
"What I believe is true, must be true!"
But is it?
In being so protective of the delicate minds of the young, will the story of Adam and Eve one day be considered too raunchy to be told in good homes?
Many a fierce debate has revolved around what is protecting — and what is denying.
As was proven during Prohibition in the U.S., and is proven again in the illegal sale of recreational drugs today, a deeper desire to have or to participate often takes hold — and the problem sinks into the grey realms of the underworld.
Please, people, stop seeing knowledge as a corruptible influence that will twist young minds into monsters.
Feed them the truths that are out there, so they can understand why they need protection — and how they can protect themselves.
Or is freedom of choice itself, too, to be censored?
Postscript:
Ironically, creating this image — a simple Bible page with censored illustrations and redacted words — took seven separate attempts to bypass modern content filters.
Perhaps nothing speaks louder about the spirit of censorship today than the very struggle to show what is being hidden.
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