Should the Internet be Policed?

It looks like the British government isn't the only one feeling a little too unsure about user freedom online as reports have revealed that the US government has joined the 'Big Brother' bandwagon.

Social media profiles are loved by users for their freedom and loathed by government bodies for the exact same reason. The personal space and anonymity that can come with a Facebook or Twitter profile has faced immense scrutiny over the years which has lately increased as a result of the rise in Internet trolls who make it their daily mission to abuse and torture anyone they can and governments across the world now want to take action.

Twitter has officially released a list of demands made by the US government which reveals that over 50% of the requests made by American officials were for private user information. In the first six months of the year the report reveals that nearly one thousand requests were made by officials for access to private accounts thought to have been associated with criminal activity. The site also revealed that the UK was in third place, behind Japan, for most requests.

Although Twitter has aimed to take the sides of its users; cases have been taken to court with judges forcing the site to hand over information, begging the question; does the internet need to be policed or are our governments damaging free speech?

Social media is central to the way we communicate; as users we 'follow' our favourite celebrities and keep in touch with families and even businesses use the site as part of their online marketing strategies to improve customer relations and grow their brand but how much freedom can anyone really have on such sites?

Will social media ever have the same appeal if it becomes a policed state?