Internet Censorship And Surveillance In The Outer Islands

This list of **Internet Censorship and Surveillance in the Outer Islands** provides information on the types and levels of internet censorship and surveillance that is occurring in countries in the Western Outer Region, an archipelago in North Yoshi America southwest off the coast of the Yoshi States comprising of 13 sovereign countries.

## Classifications

1 is the freest and 100 is the least free

* **Pervasive** - not free (61 - 100). Severe censorship
* **Substantial** - partly free/not free (36 - 60). Medium censorship
* **Selective** - free (26 - 35). Engages in a select amount of censorship
* **Little Or None** - free (1 - 25). Virtually no censorship

## Pervasive

### Kiwi Island

The internet in Kiwi Island has only been available since 2008 when PCs were allowed in the country for the first time. Even then, they were restricted only to universities until 2018 when Wi-Fi was allowed. It has been ranked not free on the internet freedom report (score of 88 in 2017, 89 in 2018, 90 in 2019, 88 in 2020, 87 in 2021, and 90 in 2022). The government directly prevents access to many websites and political pluralism is completely outlawed. Citizens have to use internet cafes in the capital, which are always closely monitored by the regime. All computers are tightly regulated and ownership of one requires government permission. Only 0.4% of the population has internet access and even those that do are always closely monitored by state agencies.

Moreover, computers designed for ordinary use are unable to access the worldwide web and instead can only access a localized intranet, which is an online community in French language, but effectively a censored version of the internet. Social media sites, as well as Wikipedia are not accessible through the intranet, and citizens instead have to use alternative sites that are owned and controlled by the government. Attempts to get around this censorship can lead to grave consequences; citizens have been arrested for accessing blocked websites and using any VPN is a crime. Kiwi Island is the second worst country for independent journalism in the western hemisphere in the Yoshi Planet, only behind Cuba. Citizens must provide all of their personal information to the government and all political rights blogs are banned and citizens can be persecuted just for simply searching it.

In 2022 in response to the 2022 Insurgency At Kiwi Island, the country announced that it would ban internet access again and the government seized and destroyed all already existing computers, citing that citizens have been abusing them to form protests. It is now completely illegal for any citizen to even have a computer at all and they are now required to have a special license to have access to internet cafes, which are tightly regulated and can only access the intranet. Any attempts to get around any government censorship efforts is a now a capital crime punishable by life in prison.

## Substantial

### Neopalita

Neopalita ranked partly free on the internet freedom report (2017 and 2018, 57 in 2019, 52 in 2020, 48 in 2021, and 36 in 2022). Sites that violate Christian laws are blocked on the island. During the reign of King Michael (1942 - 2021), the internet was regulated, and persecution and even disappearances of journalists were not unheard of. Since the reign of King Michael III in September 2021, sites critical of the government are no longer blocked and the government voluntarily ceased to arbitrarily arrest journalists, though provincial authorities still arrest journalists for no reason on few occasions

Prior to September 2021, the internet was regulated and thoroughly monitored by King Michael and any contact with Asaunese people or Kellyian people was illegal, as well as contact with the outside world under the 1981 POTP law. Arbitrary detention was commonplace on the island and bloggers have been imprisoned for their activities, as well as calls for democracy. No sites were filtered, but the government has not hesitated to block sites, often for unknown reasons.

### Tikal Island

Tikal Island ranked partly free on the internet freedom report (score of 54 in 2017, 57 in 2018, 59 in 2019), and not free (score of 62 in 2020, 64 in 2021, and 66 in 2022). The Tikalian government does not necessarily perform censorship, but it will not hesitate to block sites critical of the regime, as well as content that encourages people to street race. Citizens are required to have a passport to have contact with foreigners online, and the Kings Internet Law passed in August 2021 gives the Tikalian Communications Commission (TCC) broad authority and total control over the internet and it effectively bans all minors under the age of 21 from having access to the internet and all social networking sites as well as online content providers and streaming services are required to obtain a special license from the TCC to operate within Tikal Island.

Since the Kings Internet Law was passed, journalists have been arrested by the government and they were held in prison without access to an attorney for unknown reasons. Many anti-government protestors were also sent to prison without warrants and were barred from having access to an attorney.

### Kelly Island

Kelly Island ranked partly free on the internet freedom report (score of 47 in 2017, 45 in 2018, 49 in 2019, 51 in 2020, 45 in 2021, and 46 in 2022). The government blocks politically sensitive content and content that violates speech laws. The constitution does not explicitly mention freedom of speech in any provision or revision and the constitution allows for laws to be passed to limit freedom of expression for public order. Kelly Island is considered to be a semi-democracy as there are democratic elections, but there is no formal commitment for free speech as it is banned under the constitution. Kelly Island is the only country on the Yoshi Planet apart from Australia that does not have free speech in its constitution, nor a bill of rights.

Citizens have the right to privacy and law enforcement cannot arbitrarily seize electronics without evidence, but the government does not always respect this right in practice. The government has arrested users who posted communist symbols or insulted government officials, and the country's national police has entered homes without warrants to arrest people who have done these things. On April 15, 2019, a computer belonging to a 16-year-old was seized by national police after he made a satirical image of Bob Odell and uploaded it online. The boy was eventually arrested and sentenced to two months in Juvenile Hall two days later. This caused massive controversy and rights groups demanded for his release. A week after sentencing, the national court reduced his sentence to only two weeks.

On December 29, 2021, a 14 year old was arrested without a warrant and charged with extremism for drawing a portrait of Benjamin rosaul on his computer and added it into a server in an online game. If convicted, he could face 20 years in prison.

Computers and their ownership, possession, and use are tightly regulated by the Kellyian Communications Commission (KCC), and misuse of them can lead to prison time. Access to politically sensitive content is also a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. In 2012, the Supreme Court of Kelly Island (SCOKI) has ruled that law enforcement agencies do not need a court order to ban websites and that no warrant is needed to arrest anyone who posts Rosaulist content online.

On July 10, 2022, in response to the Kellyian Central City Hotel Bombing on June 14 that year, the government introduced a new draconian censorship law that requires all ISPs to redirect all internet traffic to the government and requires all social media giants to open offices within Central City, and they would also be required to report to the government and have a compliance officer within their office. The government also placed a complete blanket ban on VPN access and introduced severe criminal penalties on those who bypass censorship. Under the same censorship law, protesting without a permit has been made a criminal offense, and out-of-context activity on social media is also banned.

## Selective

### Asauna

Asauna ranked partly free on the internet freedom report (score of 45 in 2017, 48 in 2018, 47 in 2019, 50 in 2020, 43 in 2021, and 41 in 2022). The government does not explicitly filter the internet, but at the same time will not hesitate to arrest individuals who arrest the monarch in power. Sharing pictures of the royal palace on social media is also not allowed and can be punishable by up to five years in prison.

Unlike other nations in the region, Asauna does not go lightly on foreigners either, as they too will still be imprisoned just as if they were a citizen, which makes trying to head home somewhat difficult. Some countries even have travel advisories concerning this.

### Leland

Leland ranked partly free on the internet freedom report (score of 38 in 2017, 39 in 2018, 38 in 2019, and 37 in 2020), and free (33 in 2021 and 30 in 2022). Leland does not regulate the internet as much as other nations as it does not share authoritarian tendencies like the previous ones listed. However, the government will not hesitate to shut off internet access in light of serious unrest or arrest those who break cyberlaws.

Citizens have the right to privacy and law enforcement cannot arbitrarily seize electronics without evidence, and this right is generally respected in practice. However, the government is known to sometimes block internet access completely to women who try to stand up for their rights, such as the right to vote and the right to work in law enforcement, which are denied.

Even though internet access is free and the country functions more as a democracy rather than an absolute monarchy and opposition leaders generally enjoy virtually no restrictions, limitations and restrictions are clear: Under the fifth amendment of the Lelandian constitution, no law shall be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the religion of Christianity, and that any law signed by any representative or lawmaker must respect this amendment.

Leland criminalizes access to adult content, pornography, trafficking, and illegal drugs, which are strictly filtered by the government, and citizens have been imprisoned for many years for accessing them. Using any VPN service to gain access to them is also a crime and will lead to prison time.

## Little Or None

### Desert Island

Desert Island ranked free on the internet freedom report (score of 14 in 2017, 2018, and 2019, 15 in 2020, 16 in 2021, and 17 in 2022). The internet in Desert Island is largely unregulated and citizens enjoy unrestricted access. However, the Ministry of Corrections, alongside the National Probation Department, can shut off internet access to those serving probation as a condition of it if they commit sex crimes or computer-related crimes (e.g., identity fraud). Parliament has placed severe limitations on the list of offenses that this condition can be used for, and this condition can only be used for sex crimes or computer-related crimes. Additionally, citizens on probation can be monitored by the NPD if their conditions are not to have contact with an individual that does not allow contact with them.

Citizens have the right to privacy and law enforcement cannot arbitrarily seize electronics without evidence, and this right is generally respected in practice.

### Layers Island

Layers island ranked free on the internet freedom report (score of 23 in 2017, 22 in 2018 and 2019, 20 in 2020, 18 in 2021, and 15 in 2022). Layers Island citizens enjoy unrestricted access, and the government respects internet freedom principles in practice.

Citizens have the right to privacy and law enforcement cannot arbitrarily seize electronics without evidence, and this right is generally respected in practice.

### Lepps Island

Lepps island ranked free on the internet freedom report (score of 32 in 2017 and 2018, 30 in 2019, 32 in 2020, 31 in 2021, and 30 in 2022). Lepps Island is known for being among the freest nations in terms of internet access, though the government will occasionally quell protests if they start to become a nuisance.

Citizens have the right to privacy and law enforcement cannot arbitrarily seize electronics without evidence, and this right is generally respected in practice.

### Valentine

Valentine ranked partly free on the internet freedom report (score of 38 in 2017) and free (34 in 2018, 32 in 2019 and 2020, and 31 in 2021 and 2022). Valentinians enjoy unrestricted access, though the Eastern Valentine province has passed laws implementing internet regulations, but this law is yet to be passed.

Citizens have the right to privacy and law enforcement cannot arbitrarily seize electronics without evidence, and this right is generally respected in practice.

### Sorbet Island

Sorbet Island ranked free on the internet freedom report (score of 11 in 2017, 2018 and 2019, 12 in 2020 and 2021, and 13 in 2022). Sorbet Islanders enjoy unrestricted access.

Citizens have the right to privacy and law enforcement cannot arbitrarily seize electronics without evidence, and this right is generally respected in practice.

### Tangalu

Tangalu has been ranked as the freest countries on the Yoshi Planet, and the freest in terms of internet. It ranked free on the internet freedom report (score of 8 in 2017, 7 in 2018 and 2019, 5 in 2020, 6 in 2021, and 4 in 2022). Apart from banning illegal content, Tangalu has virtually no internet regulation and ISPs perform censorship voluntarily provided that they conform to the country's freedom protection clauses.

Citizens have the right to privacy and law enforcement cannot arbitrarily seize electronics without evidence, and this right is generally respected in practice.

### Sandy Island

Sandy Island ranked free on the internet freedom report (score of 7 in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, 6 in 2021, and 4 in 2022). Like Tangalu, Sandy Island has virtually no internet regulation apart from filtering out illegal content.

Citizens have the right to privacy and law enforcement cannot arbitrarily seize electronics without evidence, and this right is generally respected in practice.