The second paragraph of the article performs a specific function. What is it?

Internet censorship is the restriction of what can be published or viewed on-line. Not only does censorship seek to protect citizens from harmful or sensitive content, such as child pornography or graphic violence, it also aims to protect copyrighted information, promote specific political views, control internet-related crime, and monitor the varying ideas and opinions of the vast number of internet users. The degree to which internet content is monitored and suppressed varies from country to country. While most democratic countries have some degree of on-line censorship, dictatorial and repressive regimes often go so far as to block information that runs counter to the ideals of the regime.