Framework & Methodology
The Sliding Scale of Control
The Censorship Atlas categorizes state interventions across a dynamic spectrum directly correlated with Freedom on the Net (FOTN) rankings. Our research identifies a phenomenon defined functionally as the "Diagonal Shift". In contrast to previous research, our atlas is no based on direct measurements, instead we rely on the measurement data reported by third-parties as well as reports on political events. Our sources are made transparent in the `references' tab.
As state authoritarianism increases, the primary mechanisms of control drastically shift. Regimes pivot away from targeted legal and regulatory frameworks, increasingly relying on brute-force infrastructural denial and network-wide structural filtering.
Classification Spectrum
Model 1: Free
Democratic systems relying exclusively on Regulatory Defense. Control is exercised post-publication through compliance frameworks, targeted take-down orders, and democratic defamation laws.
Model 2: Partially Free
Hybrid regimes prioritizing Filtering & Flooding. Characterized by sophisticated Deep Packet Inspection, DNS hijacking, and state-sponsored bot networks to drown out dissenting narrative streams.
Model 3: Not Free
Highly restrictive states leaning heavily on Infrastructural Denial. Deployment of severe measures such as localized network shutdowns, backbone severing, and the creation of isolated national intranets.