In this report, PEN America will provide an in-depth analysis of the countries that detain and imprison the largest numbers of writers and intellectuals and explore the impact of the pandemic on the freedom to write; the role of these individuals in protest movements; and the continued threats to writers and intellectuals working in languages subject to political repression.
-
Impact of state censorship measures on the right to freedom of expression in the Americas
The report names three types of indirect censorship that are evident in the region and are being used to stifle freedom of expression: stigmatization; forms of social control facilitated by new technologies with surveillance capacity; and the judicialization of freedom of expression on matters of public interest.
Multiple authors — 5 December 2024 -
The Noose is Tightening Around Us: Algeria’s Use of Transnational Repression to Crackdown on Dissent
The report details the array of tactics employed by the Algerian government to silence dissent beyond its borders, drawing troubling parallels to authoritarian practices of countries like China and Egypt.
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) — 27 November 2024 -
Joint Submission by the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Media Foundation for West Africa, and the Syndicate of Journalists and Media Technicians of Guinea-Bissau
Three press freedom organizations called on authorities in Guinea-Bissau to accept and implement recommendations to improve its press freedom record at the country’s January 2025 Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Media Foundation for West Africa, Committee to Protect Journalists — 19 November 2024 -
Restrictions on press freedom and media suffocation in the electoral context in Venezuela
The report found over 228 violations of press freedom, and at least eight journalists remain arbitrarily imprisoned.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and partner organisations — 19 November 2024 -
Delete the Issue: Tech Worker Testimonies on Palestinian Advocacy and Workplace Suppression
7amleh’s report exposes bias against Palestinian rights advocacy in tech, urging companies to protect employees’ freedom of expression.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media — 12 November 2024 -
Press Freedom in the Swing States: The Climate for U.S. Journalism Ahead of the 2024 Election
The report examines the situation in Arizona, Florida, Nevada and Pennsylvania across five categories — political, legal, socio-cultural, economic, and safety — using a survey completed by journalists and media experts in each state.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 4 November 2024 -
Silencing Dissent: Defamation Laws and the Fight for Free Expression in Thailand
ARTICLE 19 provides in-depth analysis of Thailand’s defamation laws in thisreport, underscoring an urgent call for reform to protect freedom of expression and align the country’s legislation with international human rights standards.
ARTICLE 19 — 2 November 2024 -
CHALLENGES OF MEDIA COVERAGE OF ISRAEL’S WAR ON LEBANON
In this report, Maharat examines the dynamics of the media war taking place in Lebanon surrounding Israel’s military offensive against Hezbollah. It underscores the importance each conflicting party assigns to media as a tool for psychological warfare.
Maharat Foundation — 1 November 2024 -
Combating Impunity for Crimes and Human Rights Abuse Against Journalists in Syria
This SCM study highlights the need for effective mechanisms to address widespread abuses against journalists in Syria.
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) — 29 October 2024 -
664 CRIMES AGAINST THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS COMMITTED BY RUSSIA IN THE 2 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS OF THE FULL-SCALE WAR
In September – October of 2024 the IMI recorded 27 crimes against the media and journalists committed by Russia: murder, threats, opening fire on journalists and shelling media offices, cyber attacks, and legal pressure.
Institute of Mass Information (IMI) — 27 October 2024 -
From Resilience to Recovery: Securing the Future of Ukrainian Media
This report shows the urgent need to focus on the economic reconstruction of the sector and estimates that $96 million is needed over three years to ensure the future of independent media outlets.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 16 October 2024 -
“We Try to Stay Invisible”: Azerbaijan’s Escalating Crackdown on Critics and Civil Society
Azerbaijan is carrying out a vicious attack on government critics, independent groups, and media. The crackdown has intensified just months before Azerbaijan is to host COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which opens in Baku on 11 November 2024.
Human Rights Watch — 8 October 2024 -
State of Internet Freedom in Africa 2024
Africa’s Electoral Democracy and Technology: Pitfalls and Promises
Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) — 1 October 2024 -
Pacific Islands Media Freedom Index and Report 2023
The report ranks all 14 Pacific Island nations according to the state of media freedoms in each country.
Pacific Freedom Forum — 26 September 2024 -
Joint Submission by PEN International, Vietnamese Abroad PEN Centre and PEN America in Advance of the Fourth Universal Periodic Review of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Included among the concerns raised is the systematic misuse of the country’s legal system to criminalise critical expression towards the government or its policies.
PEN International, PEN America — 22 September 2024 -
Mapping Media Freedom Monitoring Report
The report explores in detail the 756 media freedom violations recorded by the MFRR partners in the first half of 2024. These violations affected 1,212 media-related persons or entities. 474 of these alerts were recorded in EU Member States while 282 took place in candidate countries.
Media Freedom Rapid Response — 11 September 2024 -
A tapestry of actors, attitudes, and impact: Countering disinformation in Africa
A study of the evolving disinformation landscape identifies key protagonists involved in the pushback and the tactics they employ to curb the escalating challenge.
Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) — 10 September 2024 -
CONTRIBUTION FOR THE FOURTH CYCLE OF THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW ON NICARAGUA – REPORT ON THE SITUATION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN NICARAGUA
The report documents increasing violations, as well as a rise in attacks against journalists, activists, media outlets, students, clergy, artists, and political opponents, among other actors.
Inter American Press Association — 3 September 2024 -
No Way In or Out: Authoritarian Controls on the Freedom of Movement
Authoritarian governments around the world are restricting freedom of movement in retribution for political activism and dissent, subjecting people to a variety of repressive tactics, including travel bans, revocation of citizenship, confiscation of passports.
Freedom House — 23 August 2024 -
Digital Security Among Palestinian Youth: A Study on Threats and Challenges in Light of the War on Gaza
This new study from 7amleh reveals how online harassment and cyber surveillance of young Palestinians has sparked a chilling rise in self-censorship.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media — 21 August 2024 -
Russia’s Legislative Minefield: Tripwires for Civil Society since 2020
“The Russian government’s dismantling of civic freedoms since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is a dramatic escalation of its sustained assault on fundamental rights spanning more than a decade” – HRW
Human Rights Watch — 8 August 2024 -
Tightening the Net: Iran’s new phase of digital repression
ARTICLE 19 examines how the Iranian regime is strengthening its hold over the internet through its Supreme Council of Cyberspace (SCC), with ever-increasing powers and under a new hardline leadership.
ARTICLE 19 — 24 July 2024 -
“Why Do They Hate Us So Much?” Discriminatory Censorship Laws Harm Education in Florida
Since 2021, Florida has issued laws and policies that censor and distort the curriculum and educational environment of K-12 classrooms in ways inconsistent with international human rights standards on education, access to information, and discrimination.
Human Rights Watch — 20 June 2024 -
Freedom of expression and the press agenda – January, February, March 2024
In the first quarter of 2024, at least 210 journalists and media workers stood trial in 123 court cases. Nineteen journalists were sentenced in 16 of the 37 cases that concluded during the reporting period, while at least 10 new cases were filed against journalists.
P24 Platform for Independent Journalism — 14 June 2024 -
“I Swear to Fulfill the Duties of Defense Lawyer Honestly and Faithfully”
Politically Motivated Crackdown on Human Rights Lawyers in Belarus
Human Rights Watch — 28 May 2024 -
State of Online Blasphemy Cases and Unfolding Legal Saga
The report highlights that the rise of the internet has led to an increase in blasphemy prosecutions in Pakistan. The misuse of blasphemy laws has a chilling effect on freedom of expression online. Religious minorities are particularly vulnerable to blasphemy accusations.
Bytes for All — 25 April 2024 -
From Sharing to Silence: Assessing social media suppression of SRHR content in WANA
SMEX examines platform content moderation policies for sexual and reproductive health and rights in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region.
Social Media Exchange (SMEX) — 23 April 2024 -
Palestinian Digital Rights and the Extraterritorial Impact of the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA)
A new study examines discrimination and censorship concerns within the EU, affecting both Palestinians and global advocates for Palestinian human rights.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media — 10 April 2024 -
War, Censorship, and Persecution: PEN International Case List 2023/2024
On World Poetry Day, PEN International released this report, highlighting challenges for writers in global conflicts and emphasizing the need to safeguard freedom of expression, especially in war-torn regions.
PEN International — 21 March 2024 -
Press freedom in Europe: Time to turn the tide
The report raises concerns about the use of spyware, SLAPPs and journalists in exile.
Council of Europe Safety of Journalists Platform — 6 March 2024 -
Impacts of AI Technologies on Palestinian Lives and Narratives
An overview of the threats and dangers posed by AI tech on Palestinians and advocates.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media — 22 February 2024 -
Climate and Environmental Journalism Under Fire
Journalists who cover climate and environmental stories are targeted by powerful private and state actors who are willing to go to great lengths to protect their lucrative interests linked to environmentally harmful activities.
International Press Institute — 13 February 2024 -
“I Can’t Do My Job as a Journalist” The Systematic Undermining of Media Freedom in Hungary
The Hungarian government’s interference with media freedom and pluralism, part of its systematic attack on the rule of law, obstructs the work of independent journalists in holding the authorities to account and prevents the public from accessing information.
Human Rights Watch — 13 February 2024 -
Media Capture in Greece: Entanglement of the Fourth Estate
This report examines media capture in Greece through the four indicators of media capture: capture of private media, capture of public media, capture of the system of funding media and capture of media regulators.
International Press Institute — 30 January 2024 -
WORLD REPORT 2024: HRW Annual Review Of Human Rights Around The Globe
“The international system that we rely on to protect human rights is under threat as world leaders look the other way when universal principles of human rights are violated.”
Human Rights Watch — 11 January 2024 -
Meta’s Broken Promises: Systemic Censorship of Palestine Content on Instagram and Facebook
Human Rights Watch found that the problem stems from flawed Meta policies and their inconsistent and erroneous implementation, overreliance on automated tools to moderate content, and undue government influence over content removals.
Human Rights Watch — 5 January 2024 -
Economic slump takes toll on sustainability of free media
A total 52 incidents of press freedom violations were recorded in 2023, while Freedom Forum’s annual media report shows the severe impact of the economic downturn on Nepali media.
Freedom Forum — 2 January 2024 -
Israel’s Surveillance Industry and Human Rights: Impact on Palestinians and Worldwide
The report provides an overview on the reality of the Israeli surveillance systems industry, outlines its impact on the human rights of Palestinians and implications worldwide.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media — 19 December 2023 -
2023 ROUND-UP Journalists killed, detained, held hostage and missing
In the year to 1 December 2023, RSF recorded 45 journalists killed worldwide in the course of their work, the lowest number since 2002.Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 14 December 2023 -
Privacy First: A Better Way to Address Online Harms
In this report, EFF explores a new approach to tackling online harms leaving behind strategies based on ill-conceived bills and censorship-driven solutions.
Electronic Frontier Foundation — 15 November 2023 -
Challenges Facing Journalists in the MENA Region
As we publish the investigations from this project, GCHR’s Journalists’ Protection Coordinator Zaynab Al-Khawaja says, “While working on this project I have been overwhelmed by how much my colleagues on the ground have to face and overcome, and I have been very scared for them.”
Gulf Centre for Human Rights — 3 November 2023 -
Toxic Narratives: Silencing Expression in the Western Balkans
PEN International — 29 October 2023 -
Shouting into the void: Why reporting abuse to social media platforms is so hard and how to fix it
When PEN America and Meedan asked writers, journalists, and creators about their experiences reporting online abuse to social media platforms, thet heard again and again, over the past three years, about the deep frustration, exasperation, and harm caused by the reporting mechanisms themselves.
PEN America — 25 October 2023 -
Cambodia: Fundamental freedoms monitor report 2022
The report noted that the government’s crackdown on fundamental freedoms hindered public participation and undermined the advancement of democracy in Cambodia.
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) — 19 October 2023 -
Media freedom at a crossroads: Journalism in Poland faces uncertain future ahead of election
MISSION REPORT ON MEDIA CAPTURE AND VEXATIOUS LAWSUITS IN POLAND
Media Freedom Rapid Response — 5 October 2023 -
Freedom on the Net 2023: The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence
Freedom House has found that while innovations in AI contributed to the 13th consecutive year of global decline in internet freedom, older forms of digital repression continued to proliferate.
Freedom House — 4 October 2023 -
Murdered, surveilled, and sued: Decisive action needed to protect press freedom in Greece
Joint press freedom mission to Greece concludes with a call on the government to show political courage and take specific measures to improve the climate for independent journalism.
Media Freedom Rapid Response — 1 October 2023 -
“Scorched lands of journalism in the Amazon” – RSF report
The report contains previously unpublished data on the obstacles to press freedom, particularly for local journalists, in the Brazilian Amazon, a region at the heart of the global climate challenge.
Reporters Without Borders — 22 September 2023 -
Booklash: Literary Freedom, Online Outrage, and the Language of Harm
PEN America warns that social media blowback and societal outrage are imposing new moral litmus tests on books and authors, chilling literary expression and fueling a dangerous trend of self-censorship that is shrinking writers’ creative freedom and imagination.
PEN America — 16 August 2023 -
Sustainable Development Goals: On or off track? Assessing the progress through freedom of expression and information
As London hosts the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, ARTICLE 19 releases a new briefing assessing the progress made towards meeting the SDG on freedom of expression and access to information.
ARTICLE 19 — 25 July 2023 -
MÉTODO CUBA: Independent artists’ testimonies of forced exile
Two years after historic July 11 Demonstrations in Cuba, the plight of writers and artists forced Into exile underscores the drastic deterioration of artistic freedom on the island.
PEN International — 12 July 2023 -
Latin America in a Glimpse 2023
A peek at the gaps shaping our experiences on the internet.
Derechos Digitales — 20 June 2023 -
Harassment of fact-checking media outlets in Europe
Survey finds that 90% of fact-checking outlets in Europe have been the target of online harassment and smear campaigns.
International Press Institute — 7 June 2023 -
The Unfreedom Monitor: Venezuela Country Report
The Unfreedom Monitor report provides insights into the current state of freedom in Venezuela and highlights challenges faced by journalists and media in the country.
Global Voices Advox — 6 June 2023 -
The Unfreedom Monitor: El Salvador country report
This report analyses two major incidents: the disclosure that Pegasus spyware has been used against journalists from independent media outlets and representatives of civil society, and Bukele’s legal advisor’s threats against two women journalists for not revealing anonymous sources included in a news story.
Global Voices Advox — 24 May 2023 -
Finding 404: A report on website blocking in India
The report traces this form of censorship done through blocking of websites, applications, and social media accounts in India.
SFLC.in — 20 May 2023 -
The Unfreedom Monitor – Ecuador Country Report
A methodology for tracking digital authoritarianism around the world.
Global Voices Advox — 16 May 2023 -
How are courts responding to SLAPPs?
Analysis of selected court decisions from across the globe.
ARTICLE 19 — 20 April 2023 -
Still Not Safe: Transnational Repression in 2022
Perpetrators from a total of 20 states were responsible for 79 incidents of physical transnational repression last year, including the first documented cases originating in Djibouti and Bangladesh.
Freedom House — 10 April 2023 -
Freedom in the World 2023
Marking 50 years in the struggle for democracy
Freedom House — 13 March 2023 -
War in Europe and the fight for the right to report
The report reveals a continued degradation of press freedom across the continent. Throughout 2022, the Platform documented 289 alerts concerning 37 countries, with journalists being murdered, imprisoned, physically attacked, legally harassed, and subjected to smear campaigns.
EFJ and Partner Organisations of the CoE Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists — 7 March 2023 -
MFWA report: Press freedom in the Fourth Republic of Ghana
Media Foundation for West Africa — 21 February 2023 -
‘This Is Why We Became Activists’: Violence Against Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Women and Non-Binary People
Lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ+) women and non-binary people around the world face violence from security forces, family members, and others, along with widespread discrimination that prevents them from building relationships, homes, and families, Human Rights Watch said in the report.
Human Rights Watch — 14 February 2023 -
Safety of female journalists in West Africa and Nigeria
Research carried out by the IPC and the MFWA indicates that the challenges faced by women journalists in doing their work include harassment, sexual advances, threats, and prejudice.
International Press Centre, Media Foundation for West Africa — 14 February 2023 -
Legal aid resources in Brazil: A guide for journalists facing legal action
CPJ has worked with local partners to compile this directory of resources providing different types of legal aid to help connect journalists in Brazil in need of legal support with the initiatives and organizations that can support them.
Committee to Protect Journalists — 14 February 2023 -
MFRR’s annual overview of media freedom violations in Europe
140 media freedom violations were recorded in Ukraine alone, which amount to 17.2% of the total registered in all analysed countries. The war in Ukraine also accounted for nine of the 10 killings of journalists during the year.
International Press Institute (IPI) — 8 February 2023 -
Hashtag Palestine 2022
This report diagnoses the state of digital freedoms, and outlines the most prominent patterns of digital rights violations and their trends during 2022.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media — 7 February 2023 -
Violations of media freedoms in Palestine – Annual Report 2022
A rise in serious violations against journalists last year included the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh and Ghufran Warasneh, documents a new report from Mada Center.
Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) — 1 February 2023 -
A Crisis by Design: The Systematic Nature of Human Rights Violations in Egypt
The human rights crisis in Egypt has persisted and even worsened over the last three years, as confirmed by the mid-term report submitted by the Egyptian Taskforce for Human Rights{1} to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism at the United Nations.
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) — 25 January 2023 -
Mass Media in Belarus” No. 1 (71), 2023 Annual Review 2022
BAJ’s review of 2022 highlights 33 journalists in prison, 17 heavy prison sentences, and nine media outlets classified as “extremist organisations”.
Belarusian Association of Journalists — 22 January 2023 -
Bangladesh: Attacks and authoritarian laws stifle press freedom
Press freedom violations in Bangladesh, April-September 2022.
International Press Institute — 18 January 2023 -
Finding 404: A report on website blocking in India
With the advancement of access to the internet and the consequent manifold increase in using the internet as a platform for exercising speech and expression, there has also been an increase in censorship of expression. The report traces this form of censorship carried out through the blocking of websites, applications, and social media accounts in India.
SFLC.in — 16 January 2023 -
WORLD REPORT 2023 – HRW’s Annual Review Of Human Rights Around The Globe
A New Model for Global Leadership on Human Rights
Human Rights Watch — 13 January 2023 -
Challenges to Nepali media unabated
Freedom Forum’s annual media report for 2022 states that in total 45 incidents of press freedom violations occurred in Nepal, and 120 journalists were directly affected. Compared to the previous year, the number of violations declined, but the number of affected journalists increased, which the report has noted is a worrying trend.
Freedom Forum — 5 January 2023 -
Press Freedom in Pakistan 2022: A flurry of cases, a high-profile murder and political rhetoric targeting the media
In a country where the press routinely remains under threat and faces attacks from many fronts, the media in Pakistan operated on slippery grounds in 2022 with a flurry of cases against journalists, television channel closures, charged political rhetoric enabling attacks against the media, overreach by media regulatory bodies and the killing of two journalists, including he brutal murder of one journalist on foreign soil that shook the nation.
Pakistan Press Foundation — 1 January 2023 -
Let The Net Work: Internet Shutdowns in India 2022
The previous decade has witnessed an exponential increase in internet shutdowns in India with a total count of 690, out of which 110 had been implemented in the year 2021. The year 2022 has seen 75 shutdowns till the publication of this report.
SFLC.in — 26 December 2022 -
Thailand: Denying the demand for democracy
The Thai government’s treatment of pro-democracy protesters has been discriminatory and violated their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, ARTICLE 19 found. Thai authorities exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to enact repressive emergency measures and aggressively and expansively deployed Section 112 of the Criminal Code against protesters.ARTICLE 19 — 19 December 2022 -
ROUND-UP OF JOURNALISTS DETAINED, KILLED, HELD HOSTAGE AND MISSING IN 2022
A record total of 533 journalists are currently detained worldwide, according to the annual round-up of violence and abuses against journalists published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The number of those killed has increased again this year – to 57– while 65 journalists are being held hostage and 49 are missing.
Reporters Without Borders — 14 December 2022 -
Report on the State of Freedom of Expression (FOE) in Malaysia 2022
This report documents cases of how repressive laws were used to curtail the right to speech, expression and assembly in Malaysia this past year.
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) — 12 December 2022 -
Ukrainian Culture Under Attack: Erasure of Ukrainian Culture in Russia’s War Against Ukraine
Widespread destruction of Ukraine’s museums, theaters and libraries, the persecution of writers and artists, and other attacks against Ukrainian heritage expose the breadth of Russia’s attempts to erase the country’s cultural identity as a tactic of war, according to this report by PEN America and PEN Ukraine.
PEN America — 5 December 2022 -
Unfreedom Monitor
The Unfreedom Monitor is a project to analyze, document, and report on the growing use of digital communications technology to advance authoritarian governance around the world.
Global Voices Advox — 16 November 2022 -
Connecting the Dots: Artist Protection & Artistic Freedom in Asia
The report captures growing anxiety among artists and creative practitioners across South, Southeast, East, and Central Asia around stringent security laws, the lack of unencumbered spaces for free expression, and the impact of authoritarian measures to crack down on artistic production and criminalize free expression.
PEN America — 22 October 2022 -
FREEDOM ON THE NET 2022
Countering an authoritarian overhaul of the internet
Freedom House — 18 October 2022 -
Beijing’s global media influence 2022
A new report from Freedom House highlights the Beijing government’s global campaign to shape public opinion and secure both its hold on power in China and its policy priorities abroad.
Freedom House — 14 September 2022 -
“Through The Looking Glass: Digital Safety and Internet Freedom in South and Southeast Asia
With almost all independent media institutions eradicated, Cambodian people have been forced to rely largely on social media and other online platforms to access news and information.
Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) — 16 August 2022 -
Malaysia: Criminalisation of blasphemy – 2022 update
In July 2022, ARTICLE 19 documented a number of concerning cases in which individuals were prosecuted for allegedly blasphemous speech. Malaysian authorities have investigated individuals under Section 298A of the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, and the Sedition Act.
ARTICLE 19 — 12 August 2022 -
They’ll Get You No Matter What: Morocco’s Playbook to Crush Dissent
Human Rights Watch documents a range of tactics that, when used together, form an ecosystem of repression, aiming not only to muzzle dissenting voices but to scare off all potential critics.
Human Rights Watch — 9 August 2022 -
Content moderation and local stakeholders in Kenya
The study mapped the capacity, knowledge, and needs of various stakeholders from government, civil society, private sector, and academia in relation to their work on content moderation.
ARTICLE 19 — 24 June 2022 -
Content moderation and local stakeholders in Indonesia
Effective content moderation in a big and diverse country such as Indonesia requires a transparent and sustainable dialogue between platforms and local civil society groups.
ARTICLE 19 — 24 June 2022 -
Content moderation and local stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina
With a focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and as a contribution to the Social Media 4 Peace project, implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with partner ARTICLE 19, this report explores the local-specific contextual concerns stemming from global, non-transparent, and profit-driven content moderation processes of social media.
ARTICLE 19 — 24 June 2022 -
Content moderation and freedom of expression: Bridging the gap between social media and local civil society
This report presents a summary analysis of research on current practices of content moderation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indonesia ‘harmful content’ such as ‘hate speech ’, and Kenya, with a specific focus on and disinformation.
ARTICLE 19 — 24 June 2022 -
Defending Democracy in Exile: Policy Responses to Transnational Repression
Physical transnational repression is only the tip of an iceberg. Digital threats, spyware, and coercion by proxy means that – for millions of people around the world – transnational repression has become a common and institutionalised practice.
Freedom House — 11 June 2022 -
Nepali media still in crisis
Freedom Forum published its annual World Press Freedom Day report which highlighted the attacks against journalists in Nepal over the past year.
Freedom Forum — 8 June 2022 -
The Survival Toolkit for Journalists: How to protect yourself against Digital Surveillance
The guide was developed in response to the growing threat of digital surveillance and cyber security legislation, used by governments and others to track and monitor journalists in their efforts to harass and muzzle journalists from carrying out their work.
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) — 23 May 2022 -
“I Became Scared, This Was Their Goal”
Efforts to Ban Gender and Sexuality Education in Brazil
Human Rights Watch — 16 May 2022 -
They Will Not Shoot Down Our Dream: Challenges faced by human rights defenders in Iraq following the “October Popular Movement”
A mission to Iraq found that human rights defenders, journalists and activists still hold onto hope for an end to the extreme human rights violations, but urgently need international support to help promote human rights, press freedom and accountability.
Gulf Centre for Human Rights — 8 May 2022 -
Malaysian media landscape brief 2021
The Centre for Independent Journalism has published a brief about the state of media in Malaysia, the impact of the pandemic, and its recommendations to the Malaysian government on upholding freedom of expression.
Centre for Independent Journalism — 8 May 2022 -
Freedom to Write Index 2021
Writers and public intellectuals have been unjustly locked up for their exercise of free expression; dozens are currently serving sentences of 10 years or more for their words.
PEN America — 19 April 2022 -
West Africa: Freedom of Expression Monitor, Oct-Dec 2021
The democratic revolution in West Africa over the past three decades has come under a strain in the past few years with serious implications for press freedom and the civic space.
Media Foundation for West Africa — 18 April 2022 -
Women Seizing the World, The Participation of Women Writers in Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua
While the presence of women writers and columnists in literature and journalism continues to be a minority in these countries, this reality is changing: new generations of women writers, whether poets, short story writers, journalists or novelists, are making their voices heard more day by day.
PEN International — 13 April 2022 -
Bahrain 2021: Stagnation and No Signs of Change
According to the BCHR Annual Report, the human rights situation did not improve in 2021. The authorities are still intolerant to dissent and criticism and restrict Bahrainis’ exercise of internationally-guaranteed fundamental rights.
Bahrain Center for Human Rights — 12 April 2022 -
Review of cybercrime cases in Nepal
This report analyzes 100 judgments on cybercrime cases made by local courts in Nepal.
Freedom Forum — 3 April 2022 -
Controlling the Message: Challenges for independent reporting in Greece
Report of the 1-15 December 2021 joint fact-finding mission. The partner organisations conclude that challenges to the independence of the media and the safety of journalists are systemic in the country. While the problems are not unique, their intensity is highly problematic and sets it apart from most other EU Member States.
Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR)/Reporters Without Borders — 29 March 2022 -
Media Freedom in Hungary Ahead of 2022 Election
Ahead of April’s general election, IPI’s new report finds that the Fidesz government has continued to systematically erode media pluralism, muzzle the independent press and manipulate the market to further entrench a pro-government narrative.
International Press Institute — 21 March 2022 -
Internet Shutdowns and Human Rights
Submission in response to the call for comments by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as input for the report on internet shutdowns and human rights to the fiftieth session of the Human Rights Council in June 2022.
Derechos Digitales & APC — 4 March 2022 -
The murder of Gerry Ortega: Justice delayed; justice denied
A Safer World For The Truth investigation. The murder of Gerry Ortega is indicative of structural problems concerning the safety of journalists in the Philippines; while the hitmen are often arrested, the powerful masterminds behind the killings of journalists often evade justice.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 2 March 2022 -
Mapping media freedom – Monitoring Report 2021
Attacked while covering demonstrations, harassed online for reporting on COVID�19 and measures to fight it, or sued by private companies trying to avoid publication of damaging information. These are just some examples of the threats received by journalists and media workers in Europe in 2021.
Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR)/International Press Institute — 23 February 2022 -
Patterns of torture in the United Arab Emirates
“This report, which is rich with documented facts and detailed case studies, confirms that torture in the UAE is systematic. Furthermore, as a totalitarian state, torture is carried out on direct instructions from the highest authorities in the country.”
Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) — 11 February 2022 -
RSF report: “The Great Leap Backwards of Journalism in China”
This 82-page report from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) details Beijing’s strategy to control access to information within and beyond its borders.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 3 February 2022 -
Hashtag Palestine 2021
The report highlights digital rights violations of Palestinians and pro-Palestinian advocates online, at the hands of the three authorities, as well as different social media companies in relation to the escalations and developments on the ground.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media — 11 January 2022 -
‘Stolen Freedoms: Creative Expression, Historic Resistance, and the Myanmar Coup’
PEN America’s report explores the creative response to the February 2021 coup in Myanmar and the brutal retaliation by the military.
PEN America — 3 January 2022 -
Hostility continues against Nepali media
In 2021, Freedom Forum recorded a total of 59 press freedom violation incidents which directly affected 83 members of the media.Freedom Forum — 2 January 2022 -
Sudan’s Bad Laws, Internet Censorship and Repressed Civil Liberties
This brief explores the repressive elements of media and technology-related laws in Sudan and how they have been used to undermine freedom of expression and other civil liberties in the aftermath of president Omar al-Bashir’s April 2019 overthrow.
Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) — 23 December 2021 -
RSF 2021 Round-Up: Journalists detained, killed, held hostage and missing
According to the RSF annual round-up published today, a record number of journalists – 488, including 60 women – are currently detained worldwide, while another 65 are being held hostage.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 16 December 2021 -
Educational gag orders: Legislative restrictions on the freedom to read, learn, and teach
Between January and September 2021, 24 legislatures across the United States introduced 54 separate bills intended to restrict teaching and training in K-12 schools, higher education, and state agencies and institutions. The majority of these bills target discussions of race, racism, gender, and American history and appear designed to chill academic and educational discussions and impose government dictates on teaching and learning.
PEN America — 30 November 2021 -
Cosmetic Reforms: Assessing Bahrain’s implementation of the BICI recommendations ten years later
Ten years on, the pro-democracy movement leaders are still behind bars, the major opposition political parties are outlawed, and the only independent newspaper in the country is indefinitely suspended. The Government of Bahrain’s (GoB) crackdown on free expression is in full force, as well as attempts to intimidate its critics into silence.
Bahrain Center for Human Rights — 23 November 2021 -
No to Impunity: Murders & other serious violations continue against MENA journalists
Journalists in most MENA countries continue to face all forms of repression, intimidation, and harassment, including the use of the judiciary to prevent them from carrying out their professional journalistic work. The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) has documented many cases of journalists murdered or abused, most carried out with total impunity.
Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) — 3 November 2021 -
Attacks on the media in Pakistan, January-October 2021
The space for free expression in Pakistan continues to shrink with the media facing attacks on all fronts. Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has observed an alarming trend during 2021 where not only did physical attacks against the media continue with impunity but the state level push to restrict free expression also grew.
Pakistan Press Foundation — 1 November 2021 -
Online harassment of the media in Pakistan in 2021
The media in Pakistan works within an increasingly repressive environment with the attacks on press freedom coming from all fronts. While physical attacks including abductions, manhandling, arrests and in some instances killings of journalists for their work continue, as online spheres such as social media platforms are of growing importance to the work of media professionals, journalists become the subject of attacks online.
Pakistan Press Foundation — 1 November 2021 -
How African governments undermine the use of encryption
Worryingly, many African countries have passed legislation that limits anonymity and the use of encryption, purportedly to aid governments’ efforts to combat terrorism and crime. Other governments limit the use of encryption to enable them to monitor the communications of critical journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition politicians.
Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) — 26 October 2021 -
Legal analysis: Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Informatics Number 5 of 2020 on Private Electronic System Operators
Ministerial Regulation 5 governs the functioning of private electronic systems operators (ESOs) accessible in Indonesia which include social media platforms, search engines, ecommerce platforms, games, and communications services.
ARTICLE 19 — 5 October 2021 -
Sri Lanka: Media freedom report 2020
This report by the Free Media Movement provides an overview of the state of media freedom in Sri Lanka in 2020.
Free Media Movement — 24 September 2021 -
Under Attack. A report on the security and judicial campaigns targeting human rights defenders and independent human rights organizations in Egypt
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) — 24 September 2021 -
Freedom on the Net 2021: The global drive to control big tech
In the high-stakes battle between states and technology companies, the rights of internet users have become the main casualties. A growing number of governments are asserting their authority over tech firms, often forcing the businesses to comply with online censorship and surveillance.
Freedom House — 23 September 2021 -
Spain: Ministerial Order Establishing the National Procedure Against Disinformation
In this analysis, ARTICLE 19 reviews the Ministerial Order the Ministerial Order for its compliance with international freedom of expression standards. The Order was approved by the National Security Council of Spain and published on 30 October 2020 by the Minister of the Presidency.
ARTICLE 19 — 15 September 2021 -
Internet landscape of Pakistan 2020
This Bytes for All report maps Pakistan’s internet landscape highlighting digital trends and their impact on socio-economic developments, as well as challenges and threats in the digital age during 2019-20.
Bytes for All — 9 September 2021 -
‘Where No Sun Can Enter’: A Decade of Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh
Despite credible and consistent evidence that Bangladesh security forces routinely commit enforced disappearances, the ruling Awami League has ignored calls by donor governments, the UN, human rights organizations, and civil society to address the culture of impunity.
Human Rights Watch — 18 August 2021 -
Splintered Speech: Digital Sovereignty and the Future of the Internet
Today, governments across the globe are arguing for new powers to regulate the internet within their countries’ borders for national security, economic health, and other fundamental reasons.
PEN America — 17 August 2021 -
Public Prosecution and digital transformation: An introduction to mass surveillance of the internet
The Public Prosecution needs to stop monitoring internet users out of respect for the privacy of citizens. The decision to establish the Monitoring and Analysis Unit (MAU) contradicts a number of laws and legal principles, not to mention the lack of transparency about the way it conducts its work.
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) — 17 August 2021 -
Mapping Media Freedom: A four-month snapshot – III
In Hungary, Poland and Turkey, increasing control of ruling parties over state-controlled companies, advertising agencies, media regulators, competition watchdogs and even the courts, has allowed for a steady intensification and diversification of campaigns against critical press.
International Press Institute — 29 July 2021 -
State of Media Freedom in Nigeria
The last six years have been extremely repressive for the media in Nigeria as impunity reached a new high under President Muhammadu Buhari. About 300 press freedom violations including the unresolved killings of seven journalists were recorded over the period.
Nigeria Union of Journalists, Media Foundation for West Africa — 21 July 2021 -
Freedom in tatters
The Hong Kong press industry faced increasing threats in the past 12 months. Suppression from the authorities is felt across different forms of media; freedoms have seriously deteriorated under a repressive government.
Hong Kong Journalists Association — 18 July 2021 -
Unplugged in Myanmar: Internet restrictions following the military coup
This briefing paper first explains internet restrictions that the NLD-led government put in place before the coup. It then sets out a timeline of the implementation of internet restrictions since 1 February.
ARTICLE 19 — 15 July 2021 -
Syrian media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic (Content Analysis Study)
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression monitored 154 newspaper articles and more than 136 hours of television and radio broadcasts in the first three weeks of July 2020, to identify key indicators of how the Syrian media covered the pandemic news. The analysis of the data we obtained revealed significant gaps in the Syrian media’s coverage of the pandemic, especially in disseminating accurate information and correcting rumors.
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression — 7 July 2021 -
Press Freedom Deteriorating in Slovenia under Latest Janša Government
The Slovenian government of Prime Minister Janez Janša is overseeing an increasingly systematic effort to undermine critical media, a coalition of press freedom organisations and journalism groups warn in this report.
International Press Institute/Media Freedom Rapid Response — 30 June 2021 -
Cracking Down on Creative Voices: Turkey’s Silencing of Writers, Intellectuals, and Artists Five Years After the Failed Coup,
In the five years since the coup attempt, dozens of writers, artists, and other creatives have been targeted, prosecuted, and jailed by Turkish authorities.
PEN America — 29 June 2021 -
Freedom of Expression and the Press Agenda
As the Expression Interrupted platform, which has been operating as part of the Platform for Independent Journalism (P24) since 2017, we present our first periodic report with the aim of sharing the results of our efforts to track violations of freedom of expression and the press in Turkey with the general public more effectively.
P24 Platform for Independent Journalism (Expression Interrupted) — 26 May 2021 -
Media trends in a Time of Change
The study focuses on 7 topics:
- The media’s concerns regarding the parliamentary elections
- The demands of the October 17 Movement and television coverage
- Monitoring women’s representations in the media and their political participation
- Monitoring the priorities of traditional and alternative media
- The media’s interest in corruption issues
- The union and student elections and coverage by traditional and alternative media
- New influencers and media figures through social platforms
Maharat Foundation — 21 May 2021 -
Indonesia: Press freedom deteriorates amid the pandemic
A new report by Aliansi Jurnalis Independen Indonesia looks into the impact of the pandemic on the welfare of journalists. The report also explored the state of press freedom in Papua.
Aliansi Jurnalis Independen/Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) — 16 May 2021 -
Truth in a Time of Contagion: The Viral Frontline
The 19th Annual South Asia Press Freedom report goes inside the key media issues of the Covid-19 pandemic and documents the stories of struggle, courage and resistance of a media industry in crisis and under attack on economic and political fronts in almost every country of the region.
International Federation of Journalists — 11 May 2021 -
Nations in Transit 2021: The Antidemocratic Turn
Attacks on democratic institutions are spreading faster than ever in Europe and Eurasia, and coalescing into a challenge to democracy itself.
Freedom House — 28 April 2021 -
PEN America’s Writers at Risk Database
PEN America’s Writers at Risk Database is a searchable catalog of the writers, journalists, artists, academics, and public intellectuals under threat around the world. The database includes historical cases PEN America has worked on from 1987 onwards; non-active cases are color-coded black.
PEN America — 21 April 2021 -
-
World Press Freedom Index 2021
Reporters without Borders — 20 April 2021 -
Online hatred pushing minorities to the periphery: B4A report ‘online hate speech’
Hate speech has long been pervasive in Pakistani society, especially directed towards individuals and groups belonging to minority faiths (and those of no faith). Those not following the majority’s Sunni faith, are given different titles and labels while several stereotypes are associated with different faiths, sects and religions, including Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, Sikhs and Shias. However, when it comes to online spaces where more and more people are joining different social media platforms to express their views and share their opinions (or those of others whom they support), these labels, titles and stereotypes get hugely amplified, attracting widespread attention across whole communities.
Bytes for All — 3 April 2021 -
New aspects of human rights crises during the Covid-19 pandemic – Annual Report 2020
The Arab Spring erupted a decade ago, yet the reasons behind this wave of uprisings remain unaddressed. The Arab Spring’s aftermath continues to ripple across the region, even in Tunisia, the only country that had progressed to democratic transition. These ripple effects have coalesced into unique forms, depending on the country. In countries such as Egypt, political repression has deepened, while the struggle over societal values are simply surface indicators of deeply entrenched issues. Meanwhile, armed conflict prevails in Yemen, Libya, Syria, and Iraq, where civil society has embraced a heroic role in its traditional and modern forms of organization. In Tunisia, Sudan, and Lebanon, where there is relative freedom, the political frontlines are clearer.
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) — 28 March 2021 -
Human Rights In the Gulf Region and Neighbouring Countries in the Face of Lockdowns and more Layers of Restrictions
In this annual report, GCHR presents a summary of our e#orts in advocating for HRDs, activists, journalists and citizens in exercising their human rights and freedoms and protecting these rights in the region.
Gulf Centre for Human Rights — 26 March 2021 -
Challenges for independent media in Cambodia
This paper by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media surveys the challenges facing journalists in Cambodia and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on media reporting.
Cambodian Center for Independent Media — 10 March 2021 -
Sexism’s Toll on Journalism
To mark International Women’s Day, RSF has published this report that reveals the extent of the dangers of sexist and sexual violence for women journalists, and its impact on journalism.
Reporters Without Borders — 9 March 2021 -
How the Covid-19 fight has hurt digital rights in East Africa
The fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda has dealt a blow to the promotion and preservation of human rights in the region. Moreover, the outbreak of COVID-19 could not have come at a worse time, as the countries were preparing for their respective general elections.
Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) — 23 February 2021 -
Democracy Declining: Erosion of Media Freedom in Poland
The conclusions outlined in this report reflect the findings of the recent joint press freedom mission to Poland carried out between November and December 2020 by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR).
International Press Institute — 11 February 2021 -
Out of Sight, Not Out of Reach
The Global Scale and Scope of Transnational Repression
Freedom House — 9 February 2021 -
A Safety Guide for Artists
In creating this manual, ARC aspires to offer concrete recommendations and provide a comprehensive tool kit to help artists navigate, counter, and overcome threats and persecution.
PEN America — 27 January 2021 -
MEDIA AND PRESS FREEDOM IN PAKISTAN 2020: Annual report by Pakistan Press Foundation, January 2021
In 2020 Pakistani media was confronted with unique new challenges, both in terms of content to cover as well as in the nature of the measures restricting press freedom and the free flow of information in the country.
Pakistan Press Foundation — 3 January 2021 -
Turkey’s Journalists on the Ropes: Joint International Press Freedom Mission to Turkey, October 6-9, 2020
The mission was organised in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the sharp rise in targeting of media by regulators, increased physical attacks on journalists and a new restrictive law on social media with the potential to impose further limitations on the remaining spaces for independent reporting and public commentary.
International Press Institute — 1 December 2020 -
Freedom on the Net 2020 – The Pandemic’s Digital Shadow
The coronavirus pandemic is accelerating a dramatic decline in global internet freedom. For the 10th consecutive year, users have experienced an overall deterioration in their rights, and the phenomenon is contributing to a broader crisis for democracy worldwide.
Freedom House — 14 October 2020 -
Iran: Tightening the Net 2020 – After Blood and Shutdowns
Government ordered Internet shutdowns are fast becoming a key tactic to disconnect people from each other and to prevent us from scrutinising our governments’ actions.
During nation-wide protests in November 2019 Iran’s government cut off the Internet for over 80 million people. As the shutdown continued the authorities attacked and killed hundreds.
ARTICLE 19 — 13 October 2020 -
Democracy under lockdown
The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a crisis for democracy around the world. Since the coronavirus outbreak began, the condition of democracy and human rights has grown worse in 80 countries.
Freedom House — 3 October 2020 -
Impact of COVID-19 on media workers in Malaysia
This report details the critical challenges faced by Malaysian journalists and media workers this year.
International Federation of Journalists — 11 September 2020 -
Fake News in Palestine: Exploratory Research into Content, Channels and Responses
In recent months, since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the internet has been flooded with misinformation and fake news about the coronavirus. This led 7amleh to urgently consider how to more effectively research and monitor the phenomena of fake news in Palestine and engage the public in a conversation about media literacy, misinformation and fake news.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media — 10 September 2020 -
‘Video Unavailable’: Social Media Platforms Remove Evidence of War Crimes
In recent years, social media platforms have been taking down online content more often and more quickly, often in response to the demands of governments, but in a way that prevents the use of that content to investigate people suspected of involvement in serious crimes, including war crimes.
Human Rights Watch — 10 September 2020 -
Fundamental rights under siege: Exceptional circumstances create dangerous antecedents for the Romanian press
The aim of this report is to present a series of abuses identified by our organisation during the state of emergency during the COVID-19 crisis. We have identified and exposed in this period actions of state actors that have threatened, affected or directly attacked fundamental rights such as the right to freedom of expression, the right to information and, implicitly, media freedom.
Center for Independent Journalism - Romania — 2 September 2020 -
Made in Hollywood, Censored by Beijing
This report examines the ways in which Beijing’s censors have affected and influenced Hollywood and the global filmmaking industry.
PEN America — 6 August 2020 -
Cambodia Fundamental Freedoms Monitor report 2019-2020
From 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, the monitoring report showed that the space to exercise fundamental freedoms continues to be restricted in Cambodia.
Cambodian Center for Human Rights — 4 August 2020 -
Mongolia Media Freedom Report, May 2019-April 2020
GIC’s recurrent report on the state of media freedom in Mongolia, prepared on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), which is celebrated annually on May 3.
Globe International Center — 16 June 2020 -
PEN America’s Freedom to Write Index
Writers and intellectuals are often among the canaries in the coal mine who, alongside journalists and human rights activists, are first targeted when a country takes a more authoritarian turn.
PEN America — 19 May 2020 -
Digital Rights in Palestine Amid Emergency and the Pandemic
The emergency legislation has explicitly targeted digital rights and privacy, among other things, and includes broad terms related to criminalization and punishment, with no legal provisions, safeguards, or measurable standards.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media 7 May 2020 — 7 May 2020 -
“If Not Now, When?” Queer and Trans People Reclaim their Power in Lebanon’s Revolution
The October 17 uprising in Lebanon – fueled by rampant corruption and the country’s worst economic crisis since the end of the civil war in 1990 – has sparked a newfound collective consciousness where the rights and identities of marginalized groups are part and parcel of the protests.
Human Rights Watch — 7 May 2020 -
The PEN International Case List 2019
This report firstly provides a global analysis of the cases monitored by PEN International between January to December 2019, providing a summary of the wider context under which both journalists and writers are challenged.
PEN International — 3 May 2020 -
Sees and records.. The Internet in the Arab World
Since the release of ANHRI’s first report in 2004 tackling the Internet and Arab governments, which is published every two years, the fight is still going on. The issue has not been resolved for either of the conflicting parties: whether the governments with their various institutions or the Arab peoples who are using the Internet and seek change in the world.
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information — 30 April 2020 -
Research on barriers to Hungarian journalism
The purpose of this research is to explore the daily reality of active measures and malpractices taken by the Hungarian public authorities to obstruct independent journalism.
Hungarian Civil liberties Union — 28 April 2020 -
Research on the obstruction of the work of journalists during the coronavirus pandemic in Hungary
- It is the restrictions on information that are most detrimental to independent media that provide daily news.
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union — 28 April 2020 -
Hashtag Palestine 2019: An Overview of Digital Rights Issues of Palestinians
The expanded use and capacity of technological platforms to shape our world presents both an opportunity and a challenge. Keeping up with the innovations in the field of technology, while at the same time creating frameworks for rights protection has been challenging for domestic and international actors.
7amleh – Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media — 21 April 2020 -
Human rights dimensions of COVID-19 response
This document provides an overview of human rights concerns posed by the coronavirus outbreak, drawing on examples of government responses to date, and recommends ways governments and other actors can respect human rights in their response.
Human Rights Watch — 19 March 2020 -
Viral lies: Misinformation and the Coronavirus
Freedom of expression has been one of the casualties of the epidemic, as some governments have used censorship, arrests and the application of repressive laws to address these challenges and control public narratives about the crisis.
ARTICLE 19 — 11 March 2020 -
One Country, One Censor: How China undermines media freedom in Hong Kong and Taiwan
Understanding how China tries to influence the media is a first step to preserve press freedom. Hong Kong and Taiwan are on the frontlines of this battle.
Committee to Protect Journalists — 16 December 2019 -
Analyzing Freedom of Expression Online in Lebanon in 2018
Over the past three years, Lebanon has witnessed a crackdown against freedom of expression online. The state has penalized citizens, journalists, and civil society representatives who criticize government officials or mock religious figures, worsening the overall environment for free speech online.
Social Media Exchange (SMEX) — 6 December 2019 -
Conclusions of the joint international press freedom mission to Hungary
Since 2010, the Hungarian government has systematically dismantled media independence, freedom and pluralism, distorted the media market and divided the journalistic community in the country, achieving a degree of media control unprecedented in an EU member state.
International Press Institute (IPI), ARTICLE 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPFM), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 3 December 2019 -
Taking Control? Internet Censorship and Surveillance in Russia
The present report traces the development from the first bans on content in 2012 to the present day. It shows how critical editorial teams are put under pressure and how the authorities attempt to silence individual journalists and bloggers.
Reporters sans frontières (RSF) — 29 November 2019 -
Freedom on the Net 2019
Key Finding: Governments harness big data for social media surveillance
Freedom House — 24 November 2019 -
“As Long as I am Quiet, I am Safe”: Threats to Independent Media and Civil Society in Tanzania
Since President John Magufuli came to power in 2015, Tanzania has seen a sharp backslide in respect for basic freedoms of association and expression, undermining both media freedoms and civil society. While some restrictive trends may have predated his term, they have intensified since he became president.
Human Rights Watch — 28 October 2019 -
Literature locked up: How prison book restriction policies constitute US’s largest book ban
The reality of book banning in American prisons is systematic and comprehensive. State and federal prison authorities censor content with little oversight or public scrutiny.
PEN America — 7 October 2019 -
Media mission report: Deepening self-censorship and jeopardising press freedom
Freedom Forum conducted a mission to ascertain the media situation focusing on journalists’ rights, their safety and impunity given the current changed context.
Freedom Forum — 6 October 2019 -
The newspapers that never arrive
According to a survey by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in more than 90 countries, 68% of cases of obstruction in the circulation of newspapers are attributable to governments and state authorities, while 41% of cases of newspaper censorship take place at the point of sale.
Reporters Without Borders — 24 September 2019 -
Who Has Your Back? CENSORSHIP EDITION 2019
This year’s “Who Has Your Back” report examines major tech companies’ content moderation policies in the midst of massive government pressure to censor.
Electronic Frontier Foundation — 17 June 2019 -
Art Under Pressure DECREE 349 RESTRICTS CREATIVE FREEDOM IN CUBA
In recent years, Cubans have experienced mo- mentous change, from a gradual loosening of eco- nomic restrictions to greater access to cell phones, Wi-Fi, and social media. But the Cuban govern- ment continues to operate in a highly centralized and controlled way, including in the arts sector,
PEN America — 4 March 2019 -
“You Can’t See Them, but They’re Always There” – Censorship and Freedom of the Media in Uzbekistan
A key indicator of whether Uzbekistan’s still-authoritarian government’s reforms are genuine and will be ultimately successful is in the media sphere and the core right of free speech.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) — 27 March 2018 -
Women’s rights: Forbidden subject
Covering women’s issues does not come without danger. A female editor was murdered for denouncing a sexist policy. A reporter was imprisoned for interviewing a rape victim. A woman reporter was physically attacked for defending access to tampons, while a female blogger was threatened online for criticizing a video game. For International Women’s Day, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) wants to turn the spotlight on violence against journalists covering these issues. This report does not address the status of women journalists, equal employment of women in journalism or sexist (or non-sexist) attitudes in the media. These issues have been widely covered and debated elsewhere. This report focuses specifically on threats and violence against both men and women reporters covering women’s rights.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 1 March 2018 -
Report on LGBT censorship in Lebanon
This “LGBT Censorship in Lebanon” report tackles the impact of censorship, unequal treatment and the arbitrariness of legislation on the daily lives of the Lebanese LGBT Community and more generally all LGBT-related content in Lebanon.
MARCH — 24 June 2017 -
Online censorship for political reasons
In this report we take a closer look on how a traditionally safe space for free speech and expression was transformed into a space of unregulated arbitrary legal practices. We also examine the effect that the ever-changing political objectives, affiliations and temporal objectives all have on the frequency and severity of online political censorship cases.
MARCH — 16 June 2017 -
The Battle for China’s Spirit Religious Revival, Repression, and Resistance under Xi Jinping
Combining both violent and nonviolent methods, the Communist Party’s policies are designed to curb the rapid growth of religious communities and eliminate certain beliefs and practices, while also harnessing aspects of religion that could serve the regime’s political and economic interests.
Freedom House — 28 February 2017 -
Freedom in the World 2017
With populist and nationalist forces making significant gains in democratic states, 2016 marked the 11th consecutive year of decline in global freedom.
Freedom House — 31 January 2017 -
FreeEx Report – Annual press freedom in Romania 2015-2016
The purpose of this report is to offer an outline of the main events and trends regarding freedom of speech and, in particular, media freedom.
ActiveWatch – Media Monitoring Agency — 17 January 2017 -
Pakistan HRW Report: Events of 2016
Many journalists increasingly practice self-censorship, fearing retribution from security forces, military intelligence, and militant groups. Media outlets in 2016 remained under pressure to avoid reporting on or criticising human rights violations in counterterrorism operations. The Taliban and other armed groups threatened media outlets and targeted journalists and activists for their work.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) — 16 January 2017 -
Turkey: State of emergency, state of arbitrary
After already cracking down on freedom of information in recent years, President Erdoğan has taken advantage of the abortive coup d’état and the state of emergency in effect since 20 July to silence many more of his media critics, not only Gülen movement media and journalists but also, to a lesser extent, Kurdish, secularist and left-wing media.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 19 September 2016 -
Assessment of media development in Mongolia
This publication presents the findings of the media development assessment in Mongolia that began in 2012 to determine the state of the media in the country. The assessment was based on the UNESCO/IPDC Media Development Indicators (MDIs), an internationally recognized analytical tool used to provide detailed overviews of national media landscapes and related media development priorities.
Globe International Center — 16 August 2016 -
Journalists caught in the middle: Protests turn violent from France to Finland
Violence against journalists in Europe increased in the second quarter of 2016, reports submitted to Index on Censorship’s Mapping Media Freedom platform show, as a government crackdown in Turkey intensified and protests turned violent in countries from France to Finland.
Index on Censorship — 2 August 2016 -
Facing reality after the Euromaidan: The situation of journalists and media in Ukraine
“After the initial optimism during the Euromaidan movement, many journalists have become disillusioned. They are faced with the triple challenge of the war in the Eastern part of the country, the economic crisis and the digitalization of mass media.”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 30 June 2016 -
Military continues to put pressure on Burmese media
An officer of the Myanmar army recently filed a criminal complaint against two journalists for allegedly sowing disunity among the military. Even though mediation by the Press Council caused the military to withdraw the case, this incident demonstrates how the military continues to throw its weight to get back at what it perceives as negative publicity.
Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) — 28 June 2016 -
Civil society under threat: Old and new challenges for human and children’s rights advocates in Eurasia
In recent years, the space afforded to civil society to operate freely has been shrinking dramatically across the world, presenting a serious threat to democracy and human rights. Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) have been especially badly affected by this shrinking political space.
Child Rights International Network (CRIN) — 17 December 2015 -
Surveillance, Secrecy and Self-Censorship: New Digital Freedom Challenges in Turkey
The report is a frank assessment of the recent regime of online censorship and mass surveillance against a backdrop of longstanding, serious abuses of the judicial process and attacks on freedom of expression by Turkish authorities.
PEN International, Norwegian PEN — 16 December 2015 -
Unfinished Freedom: A Blueprint for the Future of Free Expression in Myanmar
The report surveys the rocky landscape for media and public discourse since the ruling military junta lifted the curtain on the southeast Asian nation in 2012 after five decades of isolation from the modern world.
PEN America — 4 December 2015 -
Breaking Promises, Blocking Reform: Soft Censorship in Mexico
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers — 29 October 2015 -
The Charlie Hebdo Effect in the Balkans
This report scrutinizes legislation covering freedom of expression and religious freedom in the Balkans, and whether satire and blasphemy are in any way regulated in these countries.
Center for Independent Journalism - Romania — 8 July 2015 -
Imposing Silence: The Use of India’s Laws to Suppress Free Speech
Despite its Constitutional commitment to free speech, India’s legal system makes it surprisingly easy to silence others. Routine corruption, inefficiency, and the selective enforcement of vague and overbroad laws allow individuals, or small groups, to censor opinions they find distasteful. – See more at: http://www.pen-international.org/the-india-report-executive-summary-and-key-findings/#sthash.TIIM2xbu.dpuf
PEN International, PEN Canada — 20 May 2015 -
Mongolia Media Freedom Report 2012-2014
As Globe International Center (GIC) reported, from 2012-2014, violations against journalists and the media increased compared to previous years and journalists faced external threats and intervention in their professional work, different types of pressures, threats, censorship in distribution, demands to reveal their information sources, to question and give testimony in mass by law enforcement bodies, especially by the General Intelligence Agency, use of criminal defamation law by politicians and public bodies or public officials censoring the media.
Globe International Center — 5 May 2015 -
[Burma] Media reform falters at a critical juncture
As the election looms for later this year, incidents in 2014 and in early 2015 involving the press raises serious questions on the genuineness of media freedom in Burma. The situation is alarming as the state seems to have heaped all the faults and fines on the media in the past year, which has seen a media worker being killed in October on the pretext of national security. International assistance has poured into the country to develop the media aimed at lifting and sustaining the state of media freedom. However, a viable press freedom environment seems unlikely to materialise in Burma before the end of this administration.
Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) — 4 May 2015 -
Media In India’s North East: Tripura
The media in Tripura is still dependent on the government for financial help, giving them an unprecedented upper hand to control press freedom in the state. As long as the political party in power is satisfied, the media is deemed to be okay otherwise there is an incredible pressure on the journalists as they have to not only endure insults but also face demotion in rank as well as being refused accreditation. – See more at: https://samsn.ifj.org/media-in-north-eastern-state-of-tripura/#sthash.0GypROMb.dpuf
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) — 1 April 2015 -
A day in Dala with PEN Myanmar
In Dala, PEN Myanmar experienced a rare opportunity to work with a group of 200 or so high school children from the local state secondary school, which stands adjacent to the monastery compound.
PEN International — 27 March 2015 -
Blasphemy: Information sacrificed on altar of religion
There are far too many countries where news and content providers constantly face a very special and formidable form of censorship, one exercised in the name of religion or even God. And with increasing frequency, this desire to thwart freedom of information invokes the hard-to-define and very subjective concept of the “feelings of believers.”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 13 January 2015 -
Global Chilling: The Impact of Mass Surveillance on International Writers
From August 28 to October 15, 2014, PEN American Center carried out an international survey of writers1 , to investigate how government surveillance influences their thinking, research, and writing, as well as their views of government surveillance by the U.S. and its impact around the world.
PEN America — 5 January 2015 -
Violations Of Freedom Of Expression In Belarus In 2014 (Review)
Legal regulation in the field of freedom of expression became more stringent as a result of abrupt introduction of amendments to the already undemocratic law ‘On Mass Media’ in December 2014.
Belarusian Association of Journalists — 31 December 2014 -
Silenced and Forgotten: Survivors of Nepal’s Conflict-Era Sexual Violence
Human Rights Watch (HRW) — 23 September 2014 -
Freedom of the Press 2014
Global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade, according to the latest edition of Freedom House’s press freedom survey. The decline was driven in part by major regression in several Middle Eastern states, including Egypt, Libya, and Jordan; marked setbacks in Turkey, Ukraine, and a number of countries in East Africa; and deterioration in the relatively open media environment of the United States.
Freedom House — 9 September 2014 -
The Struggle for Turkey’s Internet
Freedom House — 29 August 2014 -
Myanmar: News Media Law
This legal analysis examines the compliance of the 2014 News Media Law of Myanmar with international standards on freedom of expression and media freedom.
ARTICLE 19 — 12 August 2014 -
State of Free Expression Violations in West Africa: January-April, 2014
Political intolerance, activities of fundamentalists and drug trafficking groups, government impunity, and the continued existence and application of repressive speech laws, continue to limit FoE rights in many countries of the region.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) — 31 July 2014 -
Press freedom in Jordan: Amending the licensing law for news websites
International Press Institute (IPI) — 28 May 2014 -
Censors of creativity : A study of censorship of artistic expressions in Egypt
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) — 24 April 2014 -
Afghan elections: Ballot shortage, calm before the storm
Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) — 7 April 2014 -
Under China’s Shadow: Mistreatment of Tibetans in Nepal
The 100-page report shows that Tibetan refugee communities in Nepal are now facing a de facto ban on political protests, sharp restrictions on public activities promoting Tibetan culture and religion, and routine abuses by Nepali security forces.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) — 1 April 2014 -
Back to a Maoist Future – Press freedom in China 2013
IFJ’s report documents the continued deterioration of press freedoms in Mainland China, as well as Hong Kong and Macau. It takes its title in direct response to Chinese authorities adopting more repressive measures in 2013 reminiscent of the Mao era four decades ago, including direct censorship, Internet surveillance, abuse of legal process, harassment and intimidation, and televised confessions of journalists and bloggers without trial.
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) — 28 January 2014 -
Capturing Them Softly Soft Censorship and State Capture in Hungarian Media
Hungary’s independent media today faces creeping strangulation. State capture of Hungarian media is unfolding slowly but surely, principally through the “soft censor- ship” of financial incentives and influence that affect media outlets’ editorial content and economic viability.
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers — 28 January 2014 -
Soft Censorship: Strangling Serbia’s Media
Decade-long efforts to promote media reforms in Serbia have foundered. This report describes the mechanisms of a growing “soft censorship” that denies Serbia’s citizens their right to a free and independent media and offers recommendations that can help dismantle these insidious practices.
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers — 28 January 2014 -
World Report 2014
World Report 2014 is Human Rights Watch’s 24th annual review of human rights practices around the globe. It summarizes key human rights issues in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide, drawing on events through November 2013
Human Rights Watch (HRW) — 21 January 2014 -
Computer Crimes in Iran: Online repression in practice
ARTICLE 19 — 9 December 2013 -
India: Digital freedom under threat?
Index on Censorship — 21 November 2013 -
Internet intermediaries: Dilemma of liability
ARTICLE 19 — 29 August 2013 -
CCHR Policy Brief following Roundtable Discussion on Freedom of Expression on the Internet
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) — 22 July 2013 -
Burma: Freedom of expression in transition
Burma is at a crossroads. The period of transition since 2010 has opened up the space for freedom of expression to an extent unpredicted by even the most optimistic in the country. Yet this space is highly contingent on a number of volatile factors.
Index on Censorship — 15 July 2013 -
Vietnam: Joint submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review
ARTICLE 19, Access, English PEN and PEN International welcome the opportunity to contribute to the second cycle of the UPR process of Viet Nam.
ARTICLE 19 — 18 June 2013 -
Burma falters, backtracks on press freedom
The media landscape in Burma is more open than ever, as President Thein Sein releases imprisoned journalists and abolishes the former censorship regime. But many threats and obstacles to truly unfettered reporting remain, including restrictive laws held over from the previous military regime. The wider government’s commitment to a more open reporting environment is in doubt.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) — 13 June 2013 -
Taking the Offensive – defending artistic freedom of expression in the UK
Widespread self-censorship and fear of causing offence is suppressing creativity and ideas in the United Kingdom, according to a conference report published by Index on Censorship.
Index on Censorship — 31 May 2013 -
Reforming Telecommunications in Burma
This report outlines steps necessary to promote adequate protections for Internet and mobile phone users in Burma, and ways to foster responsible investment in Burma’s telecom sector
Human Rights Watch (HRW) — 19 May 2013 -
Media Control in China: A Model of Complexity and Thoroughness
Freedom House — 6 May 2013 -
Freedom of the Press 2013 – Middle East Volatility amid Global Decline
Freedom House — 3 May 2013 -
Watching the Watchdog – Malaysian media coverage of general election (GE13)
In scrutinising the GE13 coverage provided by the most popular and influential Malaysian media, the Watching the Watchdog media monitoring project found that citizens of Malaysia are being deprived of fair and objective information about political parties and coalitions which are taking part in the elections.
Unknown author — 22 April 2013 -
Press Freedom Violations in China: 2008 – Present
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) — 26 March 2013 -
A UPR Submission on Malaysia by the International Publishers Association
Contribution to the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism, 17th session of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
International Publishers Association (IPA) — 15 March 2013 -
Traditional values? Attempts to censor sexuality
Homosexual propaganda bans, freedom of expression and equality
ARTICLE 19 — 8 March 2013 -
The Zacatecas, Mexico Rules: Cartel’s Reign Cannot Be Covered
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) — 21 February 2013 -
Media at Risk – Press Freedom in China 2012-13
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) — 8 February 2013 -
Human Rights Watch World Report 2013
Human Rights Watch (HRW) — 31 January 2013 -
Burmese media spring
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — 17 January 2013 -
Freedom in the World 2013
Freedom House — 16 January 2013 -
10 Most Censored Countries
CPJ’s analysis identifies Eritrea, North Korea, Syria, Iran as worst
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) — 2 May 2012
CPJ, 24 other organizations release report on state censorship in the Americas
The report named three types of indirect censorship that are evident in the region and are being used to stifle freedom of expression: stigmatization; forms of social control facilitated by new technologies with surveillance capacity; and the judicialization of freedom of expression on matters of public interest.
Targeting journalists, digital warfare, and the push for accountability
November 2024 in MENA: A free expression and civic space round-up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Naseem Tarawnah, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.
Yet again, RSF warns against the growing repression of journalists in Nicaragua as two more are arrested
The arrest of Leo Cárcamo and Elsbeth D’Anda, on top of the disappearance of Fabiola Tercero, demonstrates the escalating repression of independent journalism in Nicaragua.
Mongolia: RSF presents its recommendations to strengthen press freedom bill
The recommendations are aimed to ensure the freedom, independence, and plurality of Mongolian journalism.
U.S. elections implications, tackling gender-based violence, and dangerous trends in Bolivia and Nicaragua
November in the Americas: A free expression and civic space round-up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Laura Vidal, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.
Free press groups call on Georgia to end violent attacks on media
According to Mapping Media Freedom monitoring platform, at least 50 media workers experienced physical attacks, verbal abuse or obstruction as police violently dispersed the pro-EU demonstrations in Georgia.
Wavering on international justice, restricting civic space
November 2024 in Europe and Central Asia: A free expression round-up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Cathal Sheerin, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.
Exiled Expression: Root causes and impacts
Reyhana Masters and Laura Vidal examine how this global scourge is impacting the Africa and Latin America/Caribbean regions, the specific threat landscape for women journalists, and how those forced to flee can be better supported.
Exiled Expression: Support initiatives
Reyhana Masters and Laura Vidal examine how this global scourge is impacting the Africa and Latin America/Caribbean regions, the specific threat landscape for women journalists, and how those forced to flee can be better supported.
CRIN reflects on the key outcomes of COP29
“After two weeks of furious negotiations, the climate summit concluded with a new finance goal that fails those most affected by the climate crisis, including children.”
Malaysia: Concern over the Online Safety Bill and Anti-Cyberbullying Law
The government is urged to be transparent about all laws it intends to enact on online harms.
Papua New Guinea journalist and gender activist charged with defamation
Pacific Freedom Forum has expressed concern over the detention and the charges filed against journalist Hennah Joku.
Lebanon: US arms used in Israeli strike on journalists
HRW raises concerns about accountability and complicity following an Israeli airstrike that killed three journalists with US-made munitions.
Web of intimidation: Algeria’s global crackdown on dissenters
A new report exposes alarming tactics employed by the Algerian government to silence activists and stifle dissent beyond its borders.
Posts pagination
Like what you see here? Let's stay in touch
Get the latest free expression news delivered straight to your inbox.