As the Internet becomes more and more intrinsically intertwined in our lives it also becomes the target of new laws and regulations. Freedom of speech is usually the first activity to be taken away from users in many countries. Revoking that one freedom can take the form of censorship and simply blocking opposing views to that of the government in power. Offshore web hosting provides freedoms that many governments would rather not be available to their citizens. While we might think freedom of speech is taken for granted, it is not for many (even those that think they have it).
India, a large democracy that is still emerging into the modern world, has one of the more oppressive freedom of speech laws. The government of India is often accused to keep certain things from its citizens. This is quite a contradiction considering India based companies offer cutting edge hardware and infrastructure to their customers. There are concerns to be taken into account prior to using India as your offshore web hosting provider.
In the United States there are more and more restrictive laws being passed that stifle freedom of speech in the real world and on the Internet. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has seized many websites for various infractions that many citizens view as attempts at censorship.
In Europe it is slightly better as the European Union has passed a few laws that give more protection to citizens as far as information is concerned. Citizens there are also given a few freedoms that transcend to the digital world but are still weighted in the real world. Europe has a lot of countries that make up the body of the European Union and this is where it gets difficult to find a quality service for your offshore web hosting. Each country has their own laws, regulations and penalties for breaking their laws that must be abided by.
Iceland is viewed as a leader in laws that regulate citizen access to the Internet. These laws transcend from the real world and effect companies that do business on Iceland soil. For these reasons, many people across the globe take advantage of Iceland as their choice for offshore web hosting.
Remember, your website is governed by the laws of the country it is hosted in. Most people purchasing web hosting don’t realize this till it is too late. This is also why many people are investigating and taking advantage of offshore web hosting.
Iceland has a history of protecting citizens at a government level. Companies offering offshore web hosting in Iceland are effectively able to extend those protections to their clients. The Iceland government actually made it illegal to perform censorship within their borders. This basic right is included in the constitution of the country and is afforded to all companies and persons within the borders of the island.
This constitutional protection against censorship has made it rather difficult for outside companies to litigate their concerns in Iceland. This is one reason so many use offshore web hosting based in Iceland. As the legal obligations are usually much more relaxed than in their own country. Iceland also has the distinct benefit of being pro-active towards the Internet and uses thereof.
While there are many options for web hosting, both offshore and in your own country, there are many legal requirements that need to be kept in mind. No matter what your website needs, choosing a proper web host should be your first concern. The constitutional protections against censorship and the protection offered by the government of Iceland make it an ideal place to use for your offshore web hosting needs.
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