Digital Book Burnings: Censorship in the Age of AI and Algorithms

Authoritarian rule in history has often involved burning books as a way to stop the sharing of knowledge. The poem Burning of the Books by Bertolt Brecht gave a lasting critique of censorship after the Nazi book burnings of 1933. While books and writings are now less likely to be burned or torn apart, new forms of censorship online include hiding information, deleting messages and campaigning for people to be removed from the Internet. This paper investigates the ways in which automated systems and unclear policies in today’s world limit access to information in much the same way as book burnings did in history. This study draws from up-to-date case studies and academic writings to investigate how tech giants, governments and online platforms affect information exchange. The paper shows that digital book burnings are as harmful to the freedom of information, by comparing Brecht’s stance with modern examples. The research also proposes countermeasures such as using small platforms and digital preservation of records, to protect free discussion on the Internet as it becomes more controlled.