'Minecraft' Library Helps You Dodge News Media Censorship



There are many ways to get around the censorship of media however it is becoming increasingly difficult as countries like Russia and China crack down on VPNs. Reporters Without Borders thinks it has the answer to those growing challenges: make news available in a game that's rarely blocked. The team has worked with BlockWorks and MediaMonks on the Uncensored Library, a Minecraft map that contains news articles from journalists and websites which are frequently restricted for their unflattering information. Articles from Jamal Khashoggi, a murdered journalist from Saudi Arabia, Hatice Cengiz supports this project, Grani.ru, an activist-friendly Russian website, and Mada Masr (an Egyptian anti-corruption outlet) among others.



You can also see details about the current state of press freedom in 180 countries.



The library is a technological accomplishment in its own right. It's like a huge neoclassical library with large collection of books and a specific section for each country. The library isn't able to be ripped apart, but you can expand it should you have the space and inclination.



Reporters Without Borders believes that the Uncensored Library should have a high level of resilience. Anyone can download the required map, and Minecraft's nature makes it easy to host another server in case an oppressive country tries to take one down. We don't think this will be lasting forever, mind you. Countries that already have draconian measures to control censorship won't consider prohibiting Minecraft outright -- this may be just a temporary reprieve.



However, that's not the entire point. It's also a commentary on censorship, and a way to engage people who otherwise wouldn't think much about such a topic. If it inspires a few Minecraft players to support press freedom or pursue investigative reporting as a career then it has accomplished its goal.

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