Internet Freedom Around the World

Internet freedom varies significantly around the world. In China, the government has implemented the Great Firewall, which blocks access to many popular websites and services, including Google and Facebook.

The Great Firewall is enforced through a complex system of filtering and censorship, with the goal of controlling the flow of information and suppressing dissent. This has led to widespread criticism from human rights groups and internet freedom advocates.

In contrast, countries like Iceland have a highly developed internet infrastructure and a strong tradition of protecting online freedoms. Iceland has implemented measures to protect user data and prevent government surveillance, making it a leader in internet freedom.

The internet is not always free, and many countries impose restrictions on online activity.

Additional reading: Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom

Protecting and Promoting Internet Freedom is crucial for a free and open internet.

Net neutrality policies ensure that internet service providers (ISPs) treat all online content equally, without prioritizing or blocking certain websites or services.

This means that you can access your favorite websites and online services without any restrictions or extra fees.

In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has implemented net neutrality rules to safeguard the open internet.

These rules prevent ISPs from engaging in anti-competitive practices, such as throttling or blocking online services.

For example, in 2015, the FCC voted to adopt strong net neutrality rules, which were later repealed in 2017.

However, in 2020, the FCC reinstated these rules, ensuring that the open internet is protected.

In addition to net neutrality, online censorship is another significant threat to internet freedom.

Some countries have implemented strict online censorship laws, restricting access to certain websites and online content.

For instance, in China, the government has implemented a "Great Firewall" to block access to websites and online services that are deemed sensitive or critical of the government.

In contrast, some countries have implemented policies to promote internet freedom, such as the "Right to Be Forgotten" law in the EU.

This law allows individuals to request the removal of personal data from search engine results, promoting online privacy and security.

Readers also liked: Get Online Week

The Internet is more than just a platform or marketplace, it's a system of power where its design shapes power and politics. It's a battleground for control where permissionless access, bottom-up innovation, and distributed agency resist centralization by design.

Three key categories measure the ways governments and non-state actors restrict our rights online: Obstacles to Access, Limits on Content, and Violations of User Rights. Obstacles to Access looks at infrastructural, economic, and political barriers to access, while Limits on Content analyzes legal regulations on content and technical filtering and blocking of websites.

The Internet's decentralized structure reflects a vision of freedom, with permissionless access, bottom-up innovation, and distributed agency. This architecture is not immutable and must be defended, as it's crucial for dissidents to reach allies abroad, marginalized groups to build community beyond national borders, and repressive regimes to have a harder time erasing inconvenient truths.

The US used to help defend the Internet's architecture, recognizing that decentralization made it resilient, openness made it inclusive, and supporting digital rights abroad strengthened democratic norms at home.

Check this out: Platform for Internet Content Selection

Freedom on the Net measures the ways governments and non-state actors restrict our rights online. It's a comprehensive assessment that includes a detailed narrative report and a numerical score.

The methodology behind Freedom on the Net was developed in consultation with international experts. This ensures that the assessment is thorough and accurate.

Three main categories are used to evaluate internet freedom: Obstacles to Access, Limits on Content, and Violations of User Rights. These categories provide a clear framework for understanding the challenges people face online.

Obstacles to Access looks at infrastructural, economic, and political barriers to access, as well as government decisions to shut off connectivity or block specific applications or technologies. It also examines legal, regulatory, and ownership control over internet service providers, and the independence of regulatory bodies.

Limits on Content analyzes legal regulations on content, technical filtering and blocking of websites, other forms of censorship and self-censorship, and the vibrancy and diversity of the online environment. It also looks at the use of digital tools for civic mobilization.

On a similar theme: Internet Censorship in India

Violations of User Rights tackles legal protections and restrictions on free expression, surveillance and privacy, and legal and extralegal repercussions for online speech and activities.

Here's a breakdown of the three categories:

The Human Rights Framework is a crucial aspect of internet freedom. It recognizes that human rights must be protected both online and offline.

The Internet Freedom and Technology and Human Rights section highlights that human rights and fundamental freedoms must be protected both online and offline. This includes freedoms of expression, association, religion or belief, and peaceful assembly.

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor promotes internet access for all and the design, development, governance, and use of digital technologies in a manner that supports democratic values and institutions.

The Freedom on the Net methodology includes three categories: Obstacles to Access, Limits on Content, and Violations of User Rights. These categories help measure the subtle and not-so-subtle ways that governments and non-state actors restrict our rights online.

For another approach, see: Freedom on Net

The Internet is a system of power that reflects a vision of freedom, with a decentralized structure that resists centralization by design. This resistance aligns the Internet with key human rights principles, including freedom of expression, access to information, equality of participation, and resistance to surveillance.

Here are the three categories used in the Freedom on the Net methodology:

These categories are essential in understanding the human rights framework and how it applies to internet freedom. They help identify the ways in which governments and non-state actors restrict our rights online.

You might enjoy: Indefeasible Rights of Use

The US government used to be a strong advocate for internet freedom, channeling nearly $3 million between 2012 and 2016 into the development of secure, open-source communication platforms like Signal through grants from the US-backed Open Technology Fund.

The Freedom on the Net report measures internet freedom to identify threats to rights and opportunities for positive change, informing the wider community of activists, journalists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and ordinary citizens.

Authoritarians have also understood the internet's potential for individual and community empowerment, working to build a new barrier of fear in the online domain.

Recommended read: Declaration of Internet Freedom

Download Data is available for those interested in diving deeper into the findings.

You can download the 2024 Country Score Data in .xlsx format, which provides a comprehensive overview of internet freedom around the world.

The 2024 Key Internet Controls Data is also available for download, offering a detailed look at the specific internet controls in place in various countries.

Additionally, the 2024 Data for Essay and Graphics can be downloaded, which includes data used to create visualizations and essays about internet freedom.

Here are the specific data files you can download:

The US was once a global standard-bearer for Internet freedom, promoting an open and free online space that served both American interests and universal human rights.

For over two decades, the US championed Internet freedom, rooted in Cold War liberalism and post-Cold War triumphalism, and animated by the Internet's transformative promise.

The 2010 speech by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marked a turning point, framing access to the Internet as the modern equivalent of freedom of assembly.

The US invested heavily in promoting Internet freedom, channeling nearly $3 million between 2012 and 2016 into the development of secure, open-source communication platforms like Signal.

The US government stood for an Internet governed by human rights, not state sovereignty, providing emergency support to journalists and technologists under threat.

That era is over, leaving a strategic void in promoting Internet freedom.

Freedom on the Net is the go-to resource for understanding internet freedom globally. It's used by hundreds of media outlets every year, including The New Yorker, the Washington Post, The Economist, and the Guardian.

The report receives hundreds of media mentions in over 72 countries each year, making it a leading voice in global discussions on internet freedom. Policymakers also rely on Freedom on the Net to inform their decisions, with senior officials like the President of Estonia, Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister citing the report.

Activists and civil society organizations use Freedom on the Net to draw attention to their government's policies and call for positive change, as seen in Nigeria's Digital Rights and Freedom Bill drafted in 2014.

If this caught your attention, see: Dial up Internet Year

We study 72 countries in our latest report, a significant expansion from the 15 countries covered in our 2009 pilot edition.

This broader scope allows us to analyze the vast majority of internet users, covering 87 percent of the global internet population.

Our selection process considers the size of the internet population, regional or global positioning, and the unique quality of restrictions or protections on the internet.

By examining these factors, we can provide a comprehensive understanding of internet freedom around the world.

Freedom on the Net is a widely utilized resource worldwide, with hundreds of media mentions in over 72 countries each year. It's been featured in prominent publications like The New Yorker, the Washington Post, The Economist, and the Guardian.

The report receives widespread media coverage, shaping global discussions on internet freedom. Policymakers also turn to Freedom on the Net to inform global issues, with senior government officials like the President of Estonia, Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister citing the report.

Activists and civil society organizations use Freedom on the Net to draw attention to their government's policies and call for positive change. The report was used as the foundation for a Digital Rights and Freedom Bill drafted by civil society in Nigeria in 2014.

In Pakistan, NGOs used Freedom on the Net for advocacy at the Human Rights Council to press their government on their internet freedom record. The report was also part of a shadow submission on digital rights during the country's Universal Periodic Review in 2012.

The private sector and government agencies also rely on Freedom on the Net's research findings. Tech companies use the report to perform market research and due diligence, and understand how their practices can promote, preserve, or undermine internet freedom.

For your interest: Internet Society – Bulgaria

To protect internet freedom, policymakers in democratic nations should consider implementing policy recommendations to counter the negative impact of Beijing's foreign media influence campaigns.

A key approach is to establish clear guidelines for media outlets to disclose their ownership and funding sources, as this can help prevent the spread of misinformation and propaganda.

This is crucial because China's foreign media influence campaigns often use shell companies and secret funding to spread their message.

Policymakers can also promote media literacy programs to educate citizens on how to critically evaluate online information and identify potential biases.

By doing so, citizens can make informed decisions and avoid falling prey to disinformation campaigns.

Another important step is to strengthen regulations on data protection and online surveillance, as this can help prevent the collection and misuse of personal data.

This is particularly important in the context of China's growing digital economy, which relies heavily on data collection and analysis.

Broaden your view: Internet Censorship in China

If you're concerned about internet freedom, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your online activity, just like many activists and journalists do to bypass censorship.

A VPN can help protect your data from being intercepted by governments or hackers, as seen in the case of Edward Snowden's whistleblowing.

Using a VPN can also help you access blocked websites and content, such as the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which was blocked in China in 2004.

The Tor browser is another tool that can help you maintain your online anonymity and freedom, by routing your internet traffic through a network of volunteer-run servers.

Some countries, like Sweden, have implemented laws that protect internet users' right to anonymity, making it harder for governments to monitor their online activity.

In the United States, the Communications Decency Act of 1996 was a significant step towards regulating online content and protecting internet freedom.

Readers also liked: Stop Online Piracy Act

Freedom on the Net is an annual survey and analysis of internet freedom around the world conducted by Freedom House.

This project features a ranked, country-by-country assessment of online freedom in its annual report.

Broaden your view: Net Neutrality by Country

The report highlights key trends and emerging threats in online freedom, which are then used in advocacy campaigns by Freedom House.

Freedom House's findings are used by activists, international development agencies, tech companies, journalists, governments, and scholars to inform their work and decisions.

The project builds the capacity of its network of researchers to serve as internet freedom defenders around the world.

The Freedom on the Net report features a global overview of the latest developments in online freedom.

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in internet freedom? Join the Freedom House weekly newsletter to be the first to know what's happening.

You'll get timely updates on the state of internet freedom around the world, straight from the source.