Global Internet freedom has declined for the 12th consecutive year, with online human rights deteriorating in 28 countries and governments stepping up repression in virtual spaces, Freedom House said today.
In its annual report, entitled “Web Freedom 2022: Countering an Authoritarian Internet Overhaul“, the Washington-based nonprofit indicated that the sharpest declines in Internet freedom were documented in Russia, Myanmar, Sudan and Libya, but China remains, for the eighth year in a row, the country with the most online environment. most repressive in the world.
"In at least 53 countries, users faced legal repercussions for expressing themselves online, often leading to draconian prison sentences.“, lamented the organization.
The report also highlights that governments are tearing apart the global Internet to create more manageable online spaces.
"A record number of national governments have blocked 'websites' with non-violent political, social or religious content, undermining rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Most of these blocks targeted sources located outside the country. New national laws pose an additional threat to the free flow of information by centralizing technical infrastructure and applying flawed regulations to social media platforms and user data“, says the document.
The steepest drop in Internet freedom occurred in Russia, as the Kremlin stepped up its efforts”to quell domestic opposition and muzzle the independent press following its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine“, pointed out the non-profit organization.
Taking a more global view, Freedom House estimates that of the more than 4,5 billion people with Internet access worldwide, 76 percent live in countries where individuals have been arrested or imprisoned for posting content about political, social or religious issues and 64% reside in states where people have been attacked or killed for their online activities since June 2021.
"The global decline has been driven by repressive leaders in their own countries and on the international stage, where they have sought to break up the open Internet into a 'patchwork' of repressive enclaves that further their interests and consolidate their power.,” noted Freedom House.
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This report identifies three main causes of fragmentation that have contributed to diminishing respect for human rights online: restrictions on the flow of news and information, centralized state control over Internet infrastructure, and barriers to cross-border transfers of user data.
A growing number of users only have access to an online space that reflects their Government's views and interests.
“Diplomats from China and Russia have made inroads into institutions such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), seeking to transform the United Nations agency into a global Internet regulator that promotes authoritarian interests”, the report denounces.
However, despite the negative backdrop, a record number of 26 countries saw improvements in Internet freedom. Two of the biggest improvements have occurred in The Gambia and Zimbabwe. Iceland was once again the best performing country.
"Despite the general global decline, civil society organizations in many countries have led collaborative efforts to improve legislation, build media resilience and ensure accountability among technology companies. Successful class action lawsuits against the Internet shutdown have provided a blueprint for further progress on other problems such as commercial spyware.“, says the document.
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In the United States, Internet freedom improved slightly for the first time in six years.
However, just weeks away from the mid-term elections scheduled for November 2022, “the online environment was rife with political misinformation, conspiracy theories and online harassment directed at election officials and officials“, refers.
The report is one of the leading annual studies on human rights in the digital sphere, examining global trends, country-specific findings and best practices on how to protect human rights online.
The document results from an analysis carried out between June 2021 and May 2022 and analyzes Internet freedom in 70 countries, representing 89% of the world's Internet users.
The report assesses how governments are exercising control over what billions of people can access and share online, including blocking foreign websites, hoarding personal data and increasing control over their countries' technical infrastructure.
