Freedom House

?? NEW: #FreedomOnTheNet 2024 is now LIVE! Global internet freedom declined for the 14th consecutive year as voters were forced to make major decisions about their future while navigating a censored, distorted, and unreliable information space. https://lnkd.in/gvUrnjvM Protections for human rights online diminished in 27 of the 72 countries covered by FOTN24, and just 18 earned score improvements. Myanmar and China tied as the world’s worst environment for internet freedom, while Iceland maintained its status as the freest. People were physically attacked or killed in retaliation for their online activities in a record high of at least 43 countries. Users also faced arrest for nonviolent expression in three-quarters of the countries covered by FOTN, with some receiving prison sentences of 10+ years. Censorship and content manipulation were combined to sway elections. Voters in at least 25 of the 41 FOTN countries that held or prepared for nationwide elections contended with a censored information space, while in at least 21 countries progovernment commentators manipulated online information to stoke doubt in election integrity and democratic institutions broadly. More than half of these 41 countries took steps to safeguard information integrity, with mixed results. Examples from South Africa, Taiwan, and the EU—which all prioritized transparency, civil society expertise, democratic oversight, and international norms—served as the most promising models. Internet freedom is a pillar of modern democracy. Our research indicates that online censorship and manipulation are growing ever more extreme, requiring a renewed and sustained commitment to internet freedom lest we hasten democracy’s global decline. Explore more from #FreedomOnTheNet 2024: https://lnkd.in/gvUrnjvM

???? India is rated Partly Free by #FreedomOnTheNet 2024 with a score of 50/100. Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have asserted increasing control over the country's online environment. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gqZTBfzE

We were honored to attend this year’s Tallinn Digital Summit to spotlight the state of global internet freedom! Check out our panel feat. FH’s Kian Vesteinsson alongside Ambassador Ernst Noorman, Undersecretary Minna-Liina Lind, Special Envoy Dr. Eileen Donahoe, and the Internet Governance Forum's Chengetai Masango by clicking the link below, or for more details read this year’s #FreedomOnTheNet report: https://lnkd.in/gvUrnjvM

Today's Spotlight??on Freedom: ?? Authoritarians Clamp Down on VPNs ???? Iran: Free Narges Mohammadi ?? Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Latin America More: bit.ly/FH-11-21 Subscribe: https://lnkd.in/dpBr643W

???? Taiwan is rated Free by #FreedomOnTheNet 2024 with a score of 79/100—the highest in Asia. Though the country remains a model for internet freedom in the region, concerns about overbroad and nontransparent website blocking have arisen in recent years. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gK6Gq63p

Congress has a crucial role to play in organizing a unified and effective American response to #transnationalrepression. Our team spotlights how a single, official definition would enhance protections for targeted exiles and diaspora communities. ?? https://lnkd.in/g4JSK47E

???? China is rated Not Free by #FreedomOnTheNet 2024 with a score of 9/100. Chinese internet users have faced the world’s worst conditions for internet freedom for a decade, with rampant censorship and pervasive surveillance. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gn4ehs9n

How should the international community respond to Azerbaijan’s years-long campaign to forcibly displace the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh? ???? Urge accountability ?? Uphold the rights of those displaced ???? Protect Armenian cultural heritage Explore our recommendations: https://lnkd.in/gjMQNS2m

We’re hiring a new Program Associate on our Latin America and Caribbean team! As this role will provide administrative, financial, and logistical support to staff in DC and across the region, full proficiency in Spanish and English is required. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e8FKwg7k

The 2024 G20 Leaders’ Summit begins today in Rio de Janeiro, with representatives slated to discuss some of the world's most pressing challenges. Review the state of freedom in each of the forum’s participants by exploring our interactive map: https://lnkd.in/gvyu_hui