WASHINGTON: Myanmar has tied China for the world’s worst record on internet freedom, with declines reported in a number of other countries led by Kyrgyzstan, a study said on Wednesday ( Oct 16 ).
Myanmar, a Beijing supporter where the military seized power in 2021, is now the second time in a generation that any nation has matched China for a lower score in the Liberty on the Net statement.
According to a report released by Freedom House, a pro-democracy study group funded by the US Congress but move freely, digital freedom worldwide decreased for the 14th consecutive year, with more nations seeing declines than increases.
In Myanmar, the junta has cruelly cracked down on dissent since ending a decade-long trial in politics, with systematic repression and monitoring of online conversation.
Freedom House cited new junta-imposed measures in May that blocked people ‘ use of virtual private networks, or VPNs, to circumvent online restrictions.
China is infamous for creating a broad “great network” designed to eradicate information that threatens the country’s ruling Communist Party.
Kyrgyzstan, where regulators shut down the web Kloop, which is mainly funded by US-based Organizations, and had reported allegations of abuse by an opposition leader in custody, was the country that saw the biggest decline in the study.
Different nations were downgraded, including Azerbaijan, the number of the COP29 climate conference, for holding people hostage over social media posts, and Iraq, where a prominent activist was killed after Twitter posts encouraging demonstrations.
According to the report, Zambia saw a growing place for online engagement, with the biggest gains being made there.
Iceland was ranked the most complimentary net, followed by Estonia and therefore Canada, Chile and Costa Rica.
Despite being regular at 76 on a 100-point size, Freedom House is once more concerned about the lack of protection against government monitoring.
Additionally, it pointed to steps taken by at least 19 US states to combat the use of artificial intelligence in election campaigns.