The internet is a global medium playing a crucial role in our lives, acting as a source of instant information, entertainment, news, and social interactions. However, more than 65 percent of the world’s internet population, approximately 5.3 billion people, face some form of restriction in accessing this global information highway. As an exploratory study, let's uncover which countries impose the harshest internet restrictions and where citizens enjoy the most freedom of online info-access.
The Worst Countries for Internet Censorship
Surprisingly, not all the usual suspects take the top spots. North Korea, China, and Iran clinch the dubious distinction of having the worst internet censorship, scoring a maximum 11 out of possible 11 points. However, the inclusion of Iran in this group is due to its increased attempts to block VPNs and create a government-monitored VPN scheme.
In these three countries, residents are denied access to Western social media, porn, and significant news media censorship. Moreover, they force residents to use domestically developed apps like WeChat in China which lacks end-to-end encryption, enabling backdoors for third-party access to messages.
Countries like Iraq, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan have a score of 10 due to various reasons. For instance, Iraq scores high due to the frequent internet shutdowns during exam periods and protests, while Pakistan scores less because of the availability of some VPNs.
Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates also have severe restrictions, scoring 9 out of 11 where ironically, Russia has discussed legalizing piracy of Western movies and TV shows in a move to dent their profits.
Online Censorship in Europe
In Europe, 21 countries have banned or shut down torrenting sites. Moreover, Belarus even legalized piracy due to restrictions imposed on it for supporting Russia in wartime. Online pornography too has faced increased restrictions, especially in Germany and the UK which have implemented an age-verification system for adult sites.
Political media is censored in 17 European countries, with severe censorship in Belarus and Turkey. Interestingly, no European country bans or blocks social media entirely, but some, like Turkey and Belarus, restrict it alongside VPN use.
Online Censorship in North America
In North America, torrenting sites face a blanket ban in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In addition, online pornography is restricted in the US, with strict age verification requirements.
Censorship over political media varies – in Guatemala, attacks and legal threats against journalists increased, while in Honduras numerous journalists have been reportedly killed recently. Furthermore, Cuba has implemented surveillance technology to monitor social media posts.
## Online Censorship in South America
Torrenting websites are actively blocked in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay. Venezuela is the only country to restrict pornography. News media restrictions are widespread; however, Suriname appears to be the only exception.
In Uruguay, journalists face threats and lawsuits, potentially limiting freedom even further. Venezuela heavily censors political media while social media restrictions have increased, especially in Brazil and Suriname due to recent protests.
Censorship in Asia
Out of the 49 Asian countries covered, 21 have blocked or banned torrenting sites. Only two countries (Taiwan and Timor-Leste) stand up against extensive political media restrictions.
Countries such as China, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, North Korea, and Turkmenistan have imposed full bans/blocks on VPN use. Messaging and VoIP app restrictions are also widespread.
Censorship in Africa
In Africa, Egypt alone actively shuts down torrenting sites. On the other hand, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda impose a complete ban on online pornography. News media is heavily censored in 20 countries, and 37 countries implement social media restrictions.
Online Censorship in Oceania
Australia and New Zealand strictly enforce torrenting bans/blocks, with Australia dropping the age-verification for online pornography. In contrast, The Fiji government has warned residents not to express anything opposing some new local laws on social media.
Although VPNs are technically blocked or restricted in some regions, certain VPNs still function. The increasingly common trend of online censorship, however, threatens our digital privacy.
Certainly, while it’s not surprising to see the likes of China, North Korea, and Iran at the helm, the growing number of restrictions across many other countries is alarming. With new online laws allowing governments to monitor and often censor social media, coupled with the rising use of age-verification systems in the likes of the UK, US, and Germany, our digital privacy is increasingly at risk.
As we hope for a freer future for the internet, VPNs can provide a respite, allowing many of us to surf the net privately and legally. However, the challenge remains that more countries could join the restricted list, barring many from the open web. As the virtual world grows, the hope remains that the spirit of the internet, its global digital freedom, will also prevail.
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