Global Internet Freedom in Decline: Bangladesh Shows Rare Improvement Amidst Widespread Repression
Despite a 15th consecutive year of decline in global internet freedom, with 27 out of 72 countries assessed experiencing setbacks, a student-led uprising in Bangladesh offered a rare beacon of hope. The 2025 “Freedom on the Net” report, released today by Freedom House, details a world where online expression is increasingly censored, manipulated, and punished, even as some nations demonstrate resilience in the face of authoritarian pressure.
For decades, the annual Freedom on the Net report has served as a critical barometer of digital rights, chronicling government suppression of dissent, arrests for online expression, and attacks on individuals for their online activities. This year’s findings, however, paint a particularly grim picture, with the report’s title – “An Uncertain Future for the Global Internet” – reflecting a growing sense of unease.
Funding Cuts Hamper Crucial Research
The report’s release comes at a precarious time for Freedom House itself. Significant cuts to U.S. State Department funding, beginning with an Executive Order on January 20, 2025, led to the termination of over 80% of the organization’s programs in more than 140 countries. These cuts “severely impacted” Freedom House, forcing substantial layoffs and the cancellation of longstanding research contracts.
“We are really fortunate to still receive support from people and organizations who care about freedom of expression, privacy, and access to the internet,” said a senior research analyst at Freedom House. Despite the challenges, the 2025 report was completed thanks to a mix of public and private funding, demonstrating the continued commitment of a dedicated community of researchers and experts.
A Global Trend of Online Repression
The report reveals a disturbing trend: citizens in at least 57 of the 72 countries covered were arrested or imprisoned for online expression during the study period (June 2024 to May 2025) – a record high. Countries with the most extreme declines in internet freedom over the past 15 years – including Egypt, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, and Venezuela – have further intensified their control over online speech, escalating surveillance and imposing harsher penalties for dissent.
China and Myanmar continue to represent the “world’s worst environments for internet freedom,” while Iceland remains a global leader in online freedom. However, even nations considered “Free” are not immune to erosion of digital rights. Nine of the 18 countries designated as “Free” experienced declines, with Georgia, Germany, and the United States experiencing the most significant setbacks.
Bangladesh: A Rare Victory for Online Activism
Amidst the widespread decline, Bangladesh stands out as a notable exception. The country “earned the year’s strongest improvement” due to a student-led uprising in August 2024 that ousted the nation’s repressive leadership. This demonstrates the power of online activism and collective action in challenging authoritarian regimes.
The Rise of Online Manipulation and AI-Driven Threats
Beyond direct censorship, the report highlights the growing problem of online manipulation. A staggering 70% of the world’s population now lives in countries where governments actively seek to manipulate online content. The indicator for online deception has consistently declined over the past 15 years, fueled by the proliferation of AI-generated content and the use of online influencers to disseminate pro-government narratives without adequate disclosure.
Furthermore, the report finds that online anonymity is “entering a period of crisis” due to the increasing adoption of identity verification technologies, ostensibly driven by the need to protect children.
Key Findings from Regional Assessments
The report also offers detailed assessments of specific countries, revealing nuanced trends:
- United States: While retaining its “Free” status, the U.S. experienced a significant decline, partly attributed to the previous administration’s detention of foreign nationals for online expression and “politicized investigations” by the FTC and FCC into media outlets and tech companies.
- Brazil: Information manipulation in Brazil has evolved from crude propaganda to sophisticated influence operations, with networks leveraging influencers and messaging apps like WhatsApp, YouTube, and Telegram to shape public opinion.
- India: India maintains a “partly free” status, plagued by misinformation and AI-generated content, particularly following a terrorist attack in Kashmir. In August 2025, Starlink agreed to store local user data within India to comply with Indian law. The report also noted numerous data breaches affecting the Aadhaar system, leading to increased fraud.
Recommendations for a More Secure Digital Future
The Freedom on the Net 2025 report concludes with a series of recommendations aimed at bolstering digital rights worldwide. These include fostering interoperable privacy regimes, promoting a “whole of society” approach to information integrity based on “The Global Declaration on Information Integrity Online,” and ensuring the maintenance of digital services and internet connectivity, even during times of unrest.
As authoritarians continue to gain ground, a senior analyst at Freedom House urged governments and corporations “to come back to these baseline principles around safeguarding freedom of expression and making sure privacy is protected.” The full Freedom on the Net 2025 report, including detailed country assessments and methodology, is available [here](link to report).
