The Freedom House is out with its latest report on an annual study of internet freedom around the world. The Freedom on the Net showcases a study in 65 countries where 88 percent of the world’s internet users of 34 countries have been on a negative trajectory since June 2015. The steepest declines were seen specifically in countries like Uganda, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ecuador, and Libya.
The report also highlights in the past year, social media platforms, communication apps, and their users faced greater threats than ever before in an apparent backlash against growing citizen engagement, particularly during politically sensitive times. Of the 65 countries assessed, governments in 24 impeded access to social media and communication tools, up from 15 the previous year. Governments in 15 countries temporarily shut down access to the entire internet or mobile phone networks, sometimes solely to prevent users from disseminating information through social media. Meanwhile, the crackdown on users for their activities on social media or messaging apps reached new heights as arrests and punishments intensified.
Freedom on the Net is a collaborative effort between a small team of Freedom House staff and an extensive network of local researchers and advisors. Internet freedom around the world declined in 2016 for the sixth consecutive year. Two-thirds of all internet users live in countries where criticism of the government, military, or ruling family are subject to censorship. Social media users face unprecedented penalties, as authorities in 38 countries made arrests based on social media posts over the past year. Globally, 27 percent of all internet users live in countries where people have been arrested for publishing, sharing, or merely “liking” content on Facebook.
Governments are increasingly going after messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, which can spread information quickly and securely.
Key finding of the reports are:
- Internet freedom around the world declined in 2016 for the sixth consecutive year.
- Two-thirds of all internet users – 67 percent – live in countries where criticism of the government, military, or ruling family are subject to censorship.
- Social media users face unprecedented penalties, as authorities in 38 countries made arrests based on social media posts over the past year. Globally, 27 percent of all internet users live in countries where people have been arrested for publishing, sharing, or merely “liking” content on Facebook.
- Governments are increasingly going after messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, which can spread information quickly and securely.
Link to the report https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/FOTN_2016_BOOKLET_FINAL.pdf
