The Internet is becoming less free around the world. In the past year, freedom online decreased in 29 of the 65 countries assessed in the Freedom on the Net 2018 report, compared to 19 countries showing improvement.
This means that among Internet users, around half (47 per cent) live in countries where the surveillance powers of the authorities increased in the past year, threatening user rights to privacy.
About as many live in countries where individuals have been attacked or killed for their online activities (48 per cent), or in countries where political, social, or religious content was blocked online (55 per cent). Only two of ten Internet users (20 per cent) live in countries Freedom House categorises as ‘free’ in relation to the Internet.
Contributing to the negative development is the Chinese model of an extensive censorship and surveillance system, which is being embraced by more countries, with training provided by Chinese officials. Other worrying trends include the increasing disinformation and propaganda being used by authorities as a pretext for further Internet restrictions, and the unbridled collection of personal data, which has broken down traditional notions of privacy.
Iceland and Estonia, the only two countries in the Nordic and Baltic area included in the study, together top the positive end of the list. Their populations’ high Internet use, as well as steps to strengthen e-governance initiatives, are some features highlighted in the country reports.
At the opposite end of the list, China is noted as the worst abuser of Internet freedom in 2018, followed by Iran, Ethiopia, and Syria.
Eva Harrie