Freedom on the Net 2021, Freedom House’s annual country-by-country assessment of internet freedom, released today, reports an 11th consecutive year of declining internet freedom worldwide due to censorship & surveillance imposed by governments.
Since last year, the global norms regarding the digital sphere have changed dramatically. Among the 70 states whose citizens are covered by Freedom on the Net 2021, 48 have taken legal or administrative action against technology companies. In some cases, measures were taken due to legitimate efforts to ameliorate harms from Online interactions, to rein in data misuse, or to end manipulative market practices. Governments have, however, proposed new policies that would require businesses to remove content & mutually share personal data with authorities, having a severe impact on freedom of expression, privacy, & transparency.
There has been an unprecedented crackdown on freedom of expression Online that has brought about this change in the balance of power between companies & states. For their Online comments, officials arrested or convicted people in 56 countries. At least 20 countries have suspended Internet access, and 21 states have blocked social media platforms, most often during times of political turmoil like protests & elections. Authorities in at least 45 countries are suspected of obtaining sophisticated spyware or data-extraction technology from private vendors.
To read the report, click here.
