Age Checks, AI Regulation and Censorship Put Internet Freedom Under Pressure

Since its launch, Tech Policy Press has covered the findings of the annual Freedom on the Net report from Freedom House, a nonprofit organization founded in 1941 to advance democracy and human rights. As we noted last year, it is typically grim reading, a chronicle of governments suppressing dissent, people arrested for nonviolent expression, tallies of those attacked or killed for their online activities, and other threats to internet freedom.

It should come as no surprise to our readers that the topline results in this year’s report correspond to more of the same, as authoritarianism continues its advance across the planet. Freedom House finds that “Global internet freedom declined for the 16th consecutive year.” Among the most significant developments was Iran, which, amid demonstrations that rocked the country earlier this year and the subsequent United States and Israeli military strikes on the country, “imposed the longest nationwide internet shutdown Freedom on the Net has ever recorded.” In Russia, the Putin regime “consolidated control over internet service providers (ISPs),” further restricting internet access and introducing new censorship measures.