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The benefits of the Internet being a forum for free speech is fast becoming a thing of the past, a report published by the University of Washington has revealed that since 2003 64 people have been arrested for publishing their views in a blog; with three times more bloggers arrested for writing about political views than the year before.

The main topic of discussion leading to arrest or imprisonment was exposing corruption in governments, abuse of human rights or suppression of protests; and all actively criticised public policies and political figures. The main areas for arrest are the Middle East and East Asia; however arrests in Britain, France, Canada and America are also on the increase.

Although many of the culprits were involved in some form of social protest, these figures are an interesting insight into a more conformed future for the web.