Censorship in Colombia is a major issue and many laws have been passed to limit access to certain types of online content. According to the Colombian Constitution, online content that is considered detrimental to public order, morality or the safety of individuals can be blocked or removed. The government enforces the censorship laws through DNS blocking, packet filter firewalls, and other technical means. The types of content that are targeted by censorship laws include gambling, pornography, defamation, and copyright infringement.
According to the latest estimates, Colombia has a population of over 50 million people, with the 10 largest cities being Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Bucaramanga, Ibagué, Soledad, and Soacha. In recent years, censorship laws have been used to restrict access to websites such as YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. Additionally, Colombia has also blocked access to websites related to political dissidents, journalists, and human rights activists.
In 2016, the Colombian government blocked access to a website called La Silla Vacía, which is a media outlet that covers politics in the country. In 2017, the government blocked access to the websites of several human rights organizations. In 2018, the Supreme Court of Colombia ordered the blocking of several websites that contained allegedly defamatory content. In 2019, the government blocked access to dozens of websites that contained information related to the Colombian presidential elections.
There are several activists and organizations working to counter the censorship laws in Colombia. These include the Colombian Network Against Censorship and Surveillance, the Colombian Association for Digital Rights, and the Open Observatory of Network Interference.
To circumvent censorship in Colombia, the following steps can be taken:
1. Install a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt internet traffic. Popular VPNs include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost.
2. Use the Tor Browser to access blocked websites and services.
3. Use alternative DNS servers such as OpenDNS or Google Public DNS.
4. Use a proxy server to access blocked websites.
5. Use secure messaging apps such as Signal or Telegram.
Colombia is rated as ‘Not Free’ in both freedom of press and human rights organizations. The current president is Iván Duque and the ruling party is the Democratic Center. The government has adopted a hardline stance towards censorship, with the Interior Ministry launching an initiative to block access to websites containing content related to drugs, terrorism, and child pornography.
Surveillance in Colombia is also a major issue, with the government monitoring internet traffic and collecting data on individuals. Online surveillance and data retention laws have been passed to allow the government to track the activities of citizens. Additionally, copyright infringements are also being monitored and filesharing websites such as The Pirate Bay and RarBG are blocked in the country. Online gambling is illegal in Colombia and many websites related to gambling are blocked.
To circumvent censorship and surveillance in Colombia, the following steps can be taken:
1. Use a commercial VPN service such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN or CyberGhost.
2. Use the Tor Browser to access blocked websites and services.
3. Use a proxy server to access blocked websites.
4. Use secure messaging apps such as Signal or Telegram.
5. Use anonymous cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Monero.
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that can be used to circumvent censorship and surveillance in Colombia. To use Bitcoin, users must download a Bitcoin wallet and acquire Bitcoins from an exchange. Once acquired, users can send and receive payments without revealing their identity. The Bitcoin Lightning Network is a second-layer scaling solution that allows users to conduct transactions quickly and privately.
In conclusion, censorship and surveillance are major issues in Colombia and the government has passed laws to limit access to certain types of online content. Activists and organizations are working to counter the censorship laws, and there are several tools that can be used to circumvent censorship and surveillance in the country. These include VPNs, proxy servers, the Tor Browser, and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Monero. By using these tools, citizens of Colombia can protect their privacy and access the information they need.