The Streisand Effect is a phenomenon where attempts to suppress information or media coverage of a particular topic end up drawing even more attention to it. This concept is named after Barbara Streisand, who in 2003 sued a photographer and an online company for intrusion of privacy over a photo of her home. Her lawsuit was widely reported, and as a result, over 100,000 people ended up seeing the photo she had sought to suppress.
The Streisand Effect has been observed in numerous cases, including the 'Flag Police.' When the encryption key for HD DVDs was released online, the companies involved asked for its removal, but the move only led to an increase in people seeking out the key, including those who created the 'Flag Police,' a website that made the key even more publicly available and increased its notoriety.
This phenomenon is not limited to removing information, but also includes anytime content is restricted or censored. For example, a video game like Mortal Kombat was criticized for its explicit violence in the US Senate, but this criticism only drew more attention to the game, making it more popular among gamers who are curious about what all the fuss is about.
In fact, censorship can often have a counterintuitive effect, making the censored content even more alluring and desirable. It's a reminder that our natural curiosity and desire for freedom of information can sometimes be stronger than our attempts to suppress it.