Freedom on the Net is Freedom House’s annual internet freedom survey and analysis worldwide. This cutting-edge project includes ground-breaking research and analysis, fact-based advocacy, and on-the-ground capacity building. 

The hallmark of our analysis is the annual Freedom on the Net report. It features a ranked, country-by-country assessment of online Freedom, a global overview of the latest developments, and in-depth country reports. 

The key trends and emerging threats highlighted in reports are then used in national and international advocacy campaigns by Freedom House. Our findings are also used by activists worldwide in working for change, by international development agencies in designing programs and determining aid recipients, by tech companies for business decisions and risk assessments, by journalists who cover human rights online, by governments and policymakers, and by scholars and experts. 

The project builds the capacity of its network of researchers—in-country activists, civil society groups, academics, journalists, and tech and legal experts chosen for their work and expertise—to serve as internet freedom defenders worldwide. 

What does the report measure?

Freedom on the Net is the most widely utilized resource worldwide for activists, government officials, journalists, companies, and international organizations aiming to understand the emerging threats and opportunities in the Internet freedom landscape globally and policies and developments in individual countries.

Each country assessment includes a detailed narrative report and numerical score based on the methodology developed in consultation with international experts. This methodology consists of three categories:

Obstacles to Access details infrastructural, economic, and political barriers to access; government decisions to shut off connectivity or block specific applications or technologies; legal, regulatory, and ownership control over internet service providers; and 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; the vibrancy and diversity of the online environment; and the use of digital tools for civic mobilization;

Violations of User Rights tackle legal protections and restrictions on free expression, surveillance and privacy; and legal and extralegal repercussions for online speech and activities, such as imprisonment, extralegal harassment and physical attacks, or cyberattacks.

Internet freedom in India

According to the report, India’s internet freedom score improved by 2 points. It is now at 51st position in the global ranking following efforts to bridge the digital divide in the country. The improvement in the score is also based on the reduced frequency and intensity of internet shutdowns in the country. India’s score was 49 in Internet freedom in 2021.

According to the report, AI-generated disinformation campaigns disproportionately victimize and vilify segments of society that are already under threat. The overwhelming majority of non consensual deepfakes featuring sexual imagery target women, often to damage their reputations and drive them out of the public sphere. An online campaign using AI-manipulated pornographic videos was used to discredit prominent Indian journalist and government critic Rana Ayyub as early as 2018. During the coverage period, Nina Jankowicz, a US expert on disinformation, was subjected to pornographic deep fakes as part of a broader campaign against her and her work. 

Key findings of the report

The report claimed that China was the world's worst environment for internet freedom for the eighth consecutive year and internet freedom in the United States improved marginally for the first time in six years.

According to the report, Global internet freedom declined for the 13th consecutive year. Myanmar came close to dislodging China as the world’s worst environment for internet freedom, a title the latter country retained for the ninth consecutive year. Attacks on free expression grew more common around the world. In a record 55 of the 70 countries covered by Freedom on the Net, people faced legal repercussions for expressing themselves online, while people were physically assaulted or killed for their online commentary in 41 countries.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) threatens to supercharge online disinformation campaigns. At least 47 governments deployed commentators to manipulate online discussions in their favour during the coverage period, double the number from a decade ago. 

AI has allowed governments to enhance and refine their online censorship. The world’s most technically advanced authoritarian governments have responded to innovations in AI chatbot technology, attempting to ensure that the applications comply with or strengthen their censorship systems.

To protect internet freedom, democracy’s supporters must adapt the lessons learned from past internet governance challenges and apply them to AI. AI can amplify digital repression, making censorship, surveillance, and the creation and spread of disinformation easier, faster, cheaper, and more effective. 

Click here to read the full report.