The 2023 Freedom on the Net report is now available. This is the 13^th edition of Freedom House’s report assessing internet freedom around the world. According to the report, internet freedom declined globally for the 13^th consecutive year, largely influenced by authoritarian governments using artificial intelligence to bolster disinformation campaigns while intensifying online censorship. This negative trend has resulted in significant attacks on freedom of expression. For example, in Iran, the country that experienced this year’s worst decline in online freedoms, authorities have shut down internet services, blocked WhatsApp and Instagram, and increased surveillance in a bid to silence anti-government demonstrations. In other countries such as Belarus and Nicaragua, authorities have arbitrarily imprisoned people for criticizing the government through online platforms. To protect internet freedom, Freedom on the Net underscores the need for democracy advocates to adapt the lessons learned from past internet governance challenges and apply them to artificial intelligence, to establish strong human rights-based standards for both state and non-state actors developing and deploying AI tools.

Access the full report here.