Abstract
The rapid uptake of digital technologies promises great benefits for citizens to transact and communicate in a free and open space. Yet this freedom may also lead governments to impose regulation and to attempt to filter content that may be considered offensive or politicised in nature. We empirically study public perceptions of internet censorship, perceived personal consequences of internet filtering and the use of tools to circumvent censorship through a survey of 112 residents of Indonesia, analysing our results with PLS structural equation modelling. Our findings show that perceived need for filtering, as well as social norms strongly influence public attitudes. We also find that uncertainty avoidance – a cultural trait - also influences these attitudes. However, the use of circumvention tools is determined by perceived personal consequences rather than attitude. Our findings address the lack of research in this space while addressing implications for government and policymakers.
Recommended Citation
Thompson, Nik; McGill, Tanya; and Vero Khristianto, Daniel, "Public Acceptance of Internet Censorship in Indonesia" (2021). ACIS 2021 Proceedings. 22.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/acis2021/22