A study conducted by Freedom House found that Myanmar has tied with China for having the worst record on internet freedom in the world. This marks the first time in a decade that any country has matched China for a low score in the Freedom on the Net report. The report also highlighted a decline in internet freedom globally, with more countries experiencing decreases rather than increases. Myanmar, where the military seized power in 2021, has seen a further deterioration in internet freedom due to harsh crackdowns on dissent, censorship, and surveillance of online speech. The junta implemented new measures to block access to virtual private networks (VPNs), commonly used by residents to bypass internet controls.
China is known for its stringent internet regulations, including the development of the “great firewall” to monitor and control online content that is deemed a threat to the ruling Communist Party. The report pointed out another country that saw a significant drop in internet freedom, Kyrgyzstan, where authorities closed down the website Kloop for reporting on allegations of torture by an opposition leader. Azerbaijan and Iraq were among the countries that were downgraded due to detentions over social media posts and violence against activists, respectively. On the other hand, Zambia showed significant improvements in internet freedom, with more space for online activism.
The top three countries with the highest levels of online freedom were Iceland, Estonia, and Canada, followed by Chile and Costa Rica. The United States maintained its position at 76 on a 100-point scale, with concerns raised by Freedom House about the lack of safeguards against government surveillance. The report also highlighted efforts by 19 US states to address the misuse of artificial intelligence in election campaigns. It is evident that internet freedom continues to be a major issue globally, with government censorship and control affecting the ability of individuals to freely express themselves online. The situation in Myanmar, China, and other countries where internet freedom is restricted requires continued monitoring and advocacy to protect the rights of citizens to access information and communicate online without fear of reprisal.
