Myanmar and China Tied for Worst Internet Freedom in 2024

Global internet freedom has declined for the 14th year in a row, with Myanmar and China tying for the worst record, according to a new report released Wednesday by Freedom House, a U.S.-based pro-democracy research organization. The Freedom on the Net (FOTN) 2024 report paints a grim picture of the online environment in both countries, where government censorship and surveillance have reached alarming levels.

The report, which surveyed 72 countries, found that protections for human rights online have deteriorated in nearly half of those nations, with 27 countries seeing a significant decline. Myanmar became the first country in a decade to match China’s notoriously low internet freedom score, a reflection of the military government’s increasingly tight control over online spaces since its 2021 coup.

Myanmar’s Internet Crackdown Worsens

Myanmar’s decline to the bottom of the FOTN ranking highlights the severe restrictions imposed by its military rulers. Since taking control in February 2021, the junta has ramped up efforts to silence dissent and opposition, particularly through online platforms. The report details how authorities in Myanmar have systematically censored the internet, blocking websites and social media platforms while closely monitoring online activity.

The military government has also been accused of using internet shutdowns as a tool of repression, particularly in conflict zones. “The situation in Myanmar has become one of the most repressive online environments in the world,” the report said. Activists and journalists have been targeted, with many facing arrest for criticizing the government online.

Freedom House warned that internet users in Myanmar face significant risks for expressing nonviolent opinions, with many facing harsh punishments, including imprisonment.

China’s ‘Great Firewall’ Still Intact

China, which has long maintained one of the world’s most restrictive internet environments, matched Myanmar’s score at the bottom of the FOTN index. The country’s extensive censorship system, often referred to as the “Great Firewall,” isolates Chinese citizens from global online content while blocking anything deemed politically sensitive by the ruling Communist Party.

The report criticized China’s use of digital surveillance to monitor its population. Social media posts critical of the government are quickly removed, and internet users often face arrest for engaging in discussions deemed controversial. Internet service providers and tech companies operating in China are required to comply with strict government regulations, leading to an environment of self-censorship.

Asked to respond to the report, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the findings. Spokeswoman Mao Ning said that Chinese citizens “enjoy various rights and freedoms in accordance with the law,” and described the report as “baseless” and driven by ulterior motives.

Kyrgyzstan Sees Sharpest Decline in 2024

Kyrgyzstan experienced the steepest drop in internet freedom in 2024, according to the report. President Sadyr Japarov’s government has increasingly moved to restrict online organizing, particularly targeting media outlets critical of the regime.

The Kyrgyz authorities shut down the prominent investigative news site Kloop, which had published allegations by an opposition leader about torture in custody. The government’s actions, which have included arrests of journalists and activists, represent a significant shift toward a more authoritarian approach to controlling digital spaces, Freedom House said.

A Broader Global Trend of Online Repression

The report highlighted a worrying global trend: governments are increasingly using the internet as a tool of repression rather than a platform for free expression. In 2024, more than three-quarters of the countries covered by FOTN saw internet users arrested for nonviolent speech. In many cases, these arrests resulted in prison sentences exceeding 10 years.

Azerbaijan, for example, was downgraded for imprisoning individuals over social media posts, while Iraq saw the assassination of a prominent activist after a Facebook post led to protests. These incidents underscore the growing dangers faced by internet users in authoritarian regimes, where online speech can have deadly consequences.

“The internet is becoming a battleground for governments seeking to control dissent and silence opposition,” the report said. “The consequences for free expression and democratic engagement are dire.”

Countries with the Freest Internet Environments

Despite the overall decline in internet freedom, a handful of countries maintained their positions as the world’s freest online environments. Iceland once again topped the list, followed by Estonia, Canada, Chile, and Costa Rica.

These countries have implemented robust safeguards for human rights online, including protections for freedom of expression and privacy. For the first time, the FOTN report assessed internet conditions in Chile and the Netherlands, both of which received high marks for their strong digital rights protections.

Zambia saw the largest improvement in 2024, with the report noting that the country has opened up more space for online activism and civic engagement. The report attributed Zambia’s progress to increased government transparency and a reduction in online censorship.

A Global Fight for Internet Freedom

As governments across the world ramp up their efforts to control online spaces, the battle for internet freedom is becoming more urgent. The Freedom House report called on civil society organizations, activists, and international institutions to push back against these repressive trends and advocate for stronger protections for digital rights.

“The erosion of internet freedom is not just a problem for individual countries—it has global implications for democracy and human rights,” Freedom House said. “The internet must remain a space for free expression, civic participation, and open dialogue, not a tool for repression.”

Despite the challenges, the report highlighted the resilience of digital activists and human rights defenders, who continue to fight for internet freedom in even the most repressive environments.

The Freedom on the Net 2024 report presents a sobering view of the current state of internet freedom. With authoritarian regimes tightening their grip on digital spaces, the global decline shows no signs of slowing down. As countries like Myanmar, China, and Kyrgyzstan fall deeper into censorship and surveillance, the fight for a free and open internet remains more critical than ever.