Myanmar and China Rank Lowest in Global Internet Freedom

A recent Freedom House report reveals that Myanmar and China share the title for the world’s worst internet freedom, marking the 14th consecutive year of declining global internet freedom, Al Jazeera reported yesterday.

The study, covering 72 countries, noted that protections for online human rights weakened in 27 nations. Myanmar’s military government has intensified censorship and surveillance, matching China’s low internet freedom score for the first time in a decade. The report highlighted Myanmar’s recent measures to block access to virtual private networks (VPNs).

Kyrgyzstan experienced the sharpest downgrade, with authorities shutting down the investigative site Kloop amid a crackdown on dissent. Other countries facing restrictions include Azerbaijan and Iraq, where social media posts have led to severe consequences. In contrast, Iceland remains the leader in online freedom, followed by Estonia, Canada, Chile, and Costa Rica. Zambia notably improved its score, reflecting a growing space for online activism.