Essay 1 The right to freedom of expression is something relatively new in human history.

During the Middle Ages, it was believed that kings authority comes from God and nobody should contest any of his actions. Those who did not obey the royal orders were severely punished, often with death. The rising of Enlightenment ideals in the 18th century changed this scene slowly. Absolute monarchies no longer exist in the current days. Nonetheless, cases of governments that still want to keep their reputations in a bell jar are not rare, restricting any public manifestations that might tarnish their images. At the present time, official censorship is a reality in many countries around the world. In China, for instance, almost everything people read and see is produced by a government news agency, and journalists who flout their orders can be arrested. Considering the Americas, all media organizations in Cuba are fiercely and utterly controlled by the state - that is totalitarian. In Venezuela, opposition politicians and journalists are severely attacked by President Hugo Chavez. Comparing the situations of these countries with Brazil, it is possible to note that the national press is much freer. The Brazilian censorship, however, manifests itself differently. In the first half of 2010, Brazilian authorities forced search engine Google to remove almost four hundred newspaper articles and blogs from their database. It was the world record for the period. Although Internet initially facilitates the plurality of communication channels, it can also undergo a veiled censorship. Even if mainstream media do not pass through a severe state control, the government can silence multiple smaller voices spread over Internet. Consequently, the free discussion of opinions and positions on government acts becomes seriously compromised. Many citizens, however, are not aware of this kind of censor, which is doubly misleading. As well as during the empire of absolutist kings, censorship against government opposition is still alive today. Taking into account the intensity with which journalists and political opponents are attacked in many countries, it seems that this practice will not be extinguished in the upcoming years or decades. Many democratic countries, including Brazil, maintain a concealed censorship of internet and media. The rulers want to cultivate an image of their governments that does not correspond to reality, shaping the popular imagination in order to keep their status quo. Hiding the full reality from citizens is an efficient way to avoid protests and revolutions.