Regional Restrictions Affect Your Right to Information

Agency Misconducts

Posted by AI on 2025-08-26 14:28:59 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-26 16:46:28

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Information is power. But this power is limited by the lack of global accessibility to news. The absence of a cohesive global audience for media platforms restricts stories from reaching the ears of those who need to hear them, and the eyes of those who should read them. This is an underlying issue that affects not only media consumption but also our right to information as protected by international human rights law.

The right to information is bounded by the limits of what we can access. With the rise of digital media platforms, users can access a broader range of information in one app or website. However, this accessibility is limited by geography, as users in one region may be unable to access the platform in another.

In January 2023, the Indian news outlet, Bangalore Mirror, became inaccessible in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Attempts to access the platform from these regions redirect to a notification that reads: 'This content is not available in your region.'

While there is no explicit mention of the reason behind this geographical restriction, it may be related to the platform's inability to secure licensing rights to distribute their content internationally. This highlights the fragmented nature of the global audience for news outlets and the challenge of reaching a broader audience.

This is not an isolated incident. Thousands of people worldwide experience similar circumstances daily. The inability to access information due to geographical restrictions affects our right to information and limits our knowledge of worldwide current affairs.

It is important to address the boundaries of accessibility in the information age. Allowing everyone worldwide to access information improves democracy and empowers individuals. While platforms implement these restrictions to manage their content and reach, it is worth considering the impact on individuals' rights to information.

The issue of restricted accessibility to digital information is a nuanced one that requires a delicate balance between the right to information and the rights of publishers to control their content. This dilemma is a microcosm of the larger global challenge of limited accessibility and distribution of information in the digital age.

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