Access to information: Freedom and Censorship
Open Information Science Journal invites submissions for a special issue dedicated to scholarship on the broad theme of Access to information—freedom and censorship. Library and information science scholars and practitioners around the world are encouraged to submit a paper on this theme.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Nonetheless, access to information is frequently challenged and curtailed, through government, private, or individual actions; many of these acts may be considered censorship (depending upon one’s definition of censorship). Censorship, freedom of speech, and access to information have long been central concerns of library and information science. Various themes in our contemporary society suggest that these themes are especially relevant and significant now: the breadth of technological platforms and their ability/ willingness to censor individuals and particular viewpoints; the rise of far right and totalitarian governments across many nations and regions; the increasing attention paid to data privacy and the right to be forgotten; government and corporate surveillance and data aggregation; and a sense of resignation or complacency with regard to these trends.
The guest editor welcomes diverse perspectives on this theme, broadly conceived. Submissions should include the following