At the other end of Negroponte’s argument one might find the idea that the nation state cannot control the internet, that the sovereignty of the state does not extend into the noosphere. This idea certainly has some validity seeing that governments have hard times imposing a variety of laws in the internet. However, this is not necessarily due to the nation state becoming obsolete. Organizations all over the world track the censorship of the internet by the state. It seems that more totalitarian regimes have found a way to impose the borders of the nation state even online.

First, check out this ‘youtube’ Listening Post clip from Al Jazeera about the censorship in China:

Also, these maps from opennet.net are interesting. Visit their website to see all the information on this issue on other thematic maps.

Clearly, there is more to say about online censorship. And it does not online happen in the Middle East and China. Check out this article on censorship in the US. Even in Europe there is censorship and online restrictions like for the trading of Nazi memorabilia or child pornography.

Finally, it is safe to say that the internet’s anarchic structure poses difficult issues for the nation state, however, if a country is determined to control the internet there are ways.