Freedom of Thought and Internet Censorship: A Descriptive Study on Senior Students of Istanbul University Department of Information and Records Management

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the approaches of the information professional candidates who will graduate from Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Information and Records Management in 2015 - 2016 academic year about the freedom of thought and internet censorship. Questionnaire technique was utilized in order to collect data in this study in which survey research method was used. The study was limited to senior formal and evening education students. The questionnaire was applied to a total of 170 students, and 140 of them answered the questionnaire. Main finding showed that the senior (fourth-grade) students of the Department were knowledgeable with the subject of freedom of thought and internet censorship. On the other hand, it was also found out that the students supported censorship practices which might constitute violation of intellectual freedom in cases of thoughts which might harm the unity of the state, public order or the general moral structure. This, however, indicates that the students could not internalize the meaning that the terms that are freedom of thought and internet censorship bear. Within this scope, necessary suggestions were made regarding the freedom of thought and internet censorship.