Executive Summary

We assess that the level of internet freedom is declining due to rising censorship in many parts of the globe. Authoritarian states are increasingly monitoring their online environments to control information and suppress dissent, while democracies portray an increased tendency to diminish the integrity of encrypted communications with the argument of increased national security. Additionally, we assess that internet shutdowns and access-restrictions are becoming a common tool to curb protests, especially around elections and other high-stake events. 2024 marked the first time a major Western democracy utilized such a measure.

Images Sourced From: Backbone Campaign