24.11.2025 15:36:00
Дата публикации
According to the Freedom on the Net 2025 report, global internet freedom has declined for the fifteenth consecutive year. Iceland and Estonia remain the freest countries, while China, Myanmar, and Iran are ranked the least free.
The sharpest declines were recorded in Kenya, Venezuela, and Georgia. In Kenya, authorities shut down the internet and arrested protesters opposing tax policies. In Venezuela, social media and media outlets were blocked during elections.
Information control has become a key governance tool. Increasingly, manipulation methods are used worldwide: paid bot commentators, bloggers recruited for propaganda, imitation media, deepfakes, and AI‑generated content. These techniques shape narratives without direct censorship but undermine trust in independent sources.
Despite the overall decline, some countries show improvement. After mass protests and internet shutdowns in 2024, Bangladesh recorded the greatest progress in internet freedom in its region.
Kazakhstan also achieved progress: fewer internet shutdowns and steps toward telecom diversification. Positive changes were noted in Ethiopia, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
However, Freedom House researchers recommend Kazakhstan establish long‑term guarantees for digital rights to avoid a return to restrictions.
Morocco, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan improved internet coverage, but their legal frameworks remain opaque.
Governments are promoting digital technologies, especially AI. In countries with weak civil and legal institutions, this often comes with tighter control: embedded censorship, expanded surveillance, and isolation of internet segments. AI is becoming part of daily life but increases risks to free speech and privacy.
Satellite internet opens new opportunities for remote regions. In Kazakhstan, OneWeb (January 2025), Starlink (August 2025), Amazon Kuiper, and SpaceSail (both in 2027) are entering the market. These projects will expand access but raise regulatory and data security concerns.
In developed countries, pressure on online anonymity is growing. Many governments require age verification via official documents, restrict VPNs, and mandate long‑term storage of personal data. While justified as child protection, these measures risk data leaks and increased pressure on society.
Fifteen years of *Freedom on the Net* analysis show: technology itself is neutral, but its impact depends on human principles and values. To ensure innovation strengthens human rights, democratic states must embed guarantees of free speech and privacy at the legislative stage.
The sharpest declines were recorded in Kenya, Venezuela, and Georgia. In Kenya, authorities shut down the internet and arrested protesters opposing tax policies. In Venezuela, social media and media outlets were blocked during elections.
Information control has become a key governance tool. Increasingly, manipulation methods are used worldwide: paid bot commentators, bloggers recruited for propaganda, imitation media, deepfakes, and AI‑generated content. These techniques shape narratives without direct censorship but undermine trust in independent sources.
Despite the overall decline, some countries show improvement. After mass protests and internet shutdowns in 2024, Bangladesh recorded the greatest progress in internet freedom in its region.
Kazakhstan also achieved progress: fewer internet shutdowns and steps toward telecom diversification. Positive changes were noted in Ethiopia, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
However, Freedom House researchers recommend Kazakhstan establish long‑term guarantees for digital rights to avoid a return to restrictions.
Morocco, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan improved internet coverage, but their legal frameworks remain opaque.
Governments are promoting digital technologies, especially AI. In countries with weak civil and legal institutions, this often comes with tighter control: embedded censorship, expanded surveillance, and isolation of internet segments. AI is becoming part of daily life but increases risks to free speech and privacy.
Satellite internet opens new opportunities for remote regions. In Kazakhstan, OneWeb (January 2025), Starlink (August 2025), Amazon Kuiper, and SpaceSail (both in 2027) are entering the market. These projects will expand access but raise regulatory and data security concerns.
In developed countries, pressure on online anonymity is growing. Many governments require age verification via official documents, restrict VPNs, and mandate long‑term storage of personal data. While justified as child protection, these measures risk data leaks and increased pressure on society.
Fifteen years of *Freedom on the Net* analysis show: technology itself is neutral, but its impact depends on human principles and values. To ensure innovation strengthens human rights, democratic states must embed guarantees of free speech and privacy at the legislative stage.
