By The Smartencyclopedia Staff
Internet freedom has experienced its 13th consecutive annual decline, with China, Russia, and several other nations tightening their grip on digital expression, according to the latest report from Freedom House, titled “Freedom on the Net.” The report covers 70 countries, revealing a disturbing trend where legal repercussions for online expression have become commonplace in 55 of them.
China: The Persistent Offender
China continues to top the list as the world’s worst abuser of internet freedom for the ninth consecutive year, employing all nine tools identified by Freedom House to restrict online freedoms. These tools include blocking social media, restricting political, social, or religious content, disrupting ICT networks, manipulating online discussions through government commentators, tightening censorship laws, increasing surveillance, and resorting to arrests, imprisonment, or physical attacks against bloggers or ICT users.
Throughout 2023, China faced unprecedented protests against its COVID-19 policies, leading to swift censorship measures. Citizens experienced legal consequences for sharing news, discussing religious beliefs, or communicating internationally. The Chinese government wields significant control over the technology industry, imposing new restrictions on generative artificial intelligence tools.
Russia: Tightening Control
Russia closely follows China, employing eight out of the nine identified tools to limit internet freedom. The government enacted increasingly restrictive laws during 2023, aimed at controlling information and eliminating criticism, particularly regarding the invasion of Ukraine. Social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, were blocked, and fines were imposed on platforms refusing to comply with content removal and data localization.
Additional measures included expanding the “foreign agents” law, adding news outlets and civil society organizations to the list of “undesirable organizations,” and using laws against spreading false information to imprison critics of the Ukraine invasion.
Other Offenders and Concerns
Iran, Turkey, and India, which provided support to Putin’s war on Ukraine, also demonstrated poor performance in internet freedom. Cuba, despite not criticizing the Ukraine invasion, employs eight tools to restrict the internet.
Former Soviet republics Belarus and Uzbekistan, as well as Central Asian states like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan, also exhibit varying degrees of internet control. Ukraine, engaged in a life-and-death struggle, uses six methods to resist Russian propaganda and hybrid warfare.
The West’s Stance on Internet Freedom
In contrast, countries like Argentina, Estonia, Iceland, Germany, Canada, Italy, Australia, Japan, Costa Rica, and Taiwan exercise minimal internet controls, with Argentina boasting complete freedom. The United Kingdom employs two controls, while the United States, despite being a target of election interference, utilizes three.
As internet controls become integral to the broader East-West confrontation, defending internet freedom becomes crucial. The ability of citizens to access information and express themselves online is seen as a vital component of overall freedom.
The West must navigate this landscape carefully, understanding that internet freedom is a critical aspect of the ongoing geopolitical struggle. Maintaining open channels for information exchange and digital expression is essential for preserving democratic values in the face of increasing global challenges.