GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP

![Democracy.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSPmXHXWpb2Hupo7swmYK8aMsED7gS1cYAEx2tmcz2xnJ/Democracy.jpg)

What happens to Bitcoin and Blockchain if the Internet is blocked before decentralization?

As a true believer in the world-changing implications of Bitcoin, Blockchain and cryptocurrencies, I have watched all the videos, read all the papers and even splashed out on a few books, BUT nowhere can I find a plan B or even plan A, should one or all democratically elected governments suddenly decide to shut down access to the internet before we have fully functional decentralized access to all the exchanges, online wallets etc. Andreas Antonopoulos, in his fantastic book The Internet of Money (highly recommended), briefly addresses this by stating that we should be asking questions about the type of government we have if our government intervenes in our basic access to information and ultimately our freedom. THEY ARE ALREADY DOING IT and it is the democratic minority, not the majority who are protesting. On a daily basis, so-called, Democratic Governments are restricting our freedom of speech and access to information. Banks are deciding where we are allowed to send our own money and now blocking transfers to some cryptocurrency exchanges. If European countries are Democracies how did Spain block access to Catalan websites during the referendum in October 2017? Source. https://ooni.torproject.org/post/internet-censorship-catalonia-independence-referendum/

If the USA is a Democracy why are U.N. freedom of speech experts so concerned about the impact of the changes to the laws governing NET NEUTRALITY? David Kaye, an American law professor and the U.N. Human Rights Council’s independent expert on freedom of expression, said net neutrality, the idea that all Internet traffic should be treated the same regardless of content, was essential. “Net neutrality is a really, really important principle from the perspective of ensuring broad access to information by all individuals,” Kaye told reporters in Geneva on the sidelines of the Internet Governance Forum. Source. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet-un/u-n-freedom-of-speech-expert-concerned-about-net-neutrality-idUSKBN1EE2DA

In the UK the Prime Minister says she won't rule out simply "taking down" the "rogue internet companies" like China has. The prime minister was then asked if she would rule out "Chinese-style cyber-blocking action". She only said that she would "work with the companies" and gave no explicit commitment that she wouldn't introduce censorship and restriction regimes like the ones that operate in China. The Conservative manifesto says that the UK should be the "global leader in the regulation of the use of personal data and the internet". Source http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/theresa-may-internet-conservatives-government-a7744176.html

In the last few months, Governments and their best buddies the Banks have suddenly woken up to the reality of Bitcoin and the implications of decentralisation and they are worried. Blockchain can bring freedom to us little people but can we get there before the Governments and the banks shut it down? Are you scared yet? Personally, I am terrified! Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information, on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or "inconvenient" as determined by government authorities or by community consensus.