Read the latest Spotlight🔆on Freedom: 🌎Leading the Way in the Defense of Freedom: Our Work in 2025 📢STATEMENT: Freedom House Condemns Unjust Conviction of Jimmy Lai 🔍NEW: UK Reporting Tool to Combat Misuse of Spyware & Surveillance Tech More: bit.ly/496i83V Subscribe: bit.ly/Subscribe_FHnewsletter

🏛️ Foundations of Freedom: Our second essay focuses on the importance of an independent judiciary system in safeguarding against government overreach and protecting democracy. Read more: freedomhouse.org/article/foun...

Did you miss it? The tenth edition of @FH_China’s China Dissent Monitor added 1,392 cases to our database for a total of 12,331 dissent events recorded since June 2022. What we’ve learned: freedomhouse.org/report/china...

Nine years ago today, Cameroonian journalist Tsi Conrad was arrested for documenting government abuse at a protest. Today, as he continues to serve an unjust 15-year prison sentence, we call for his immediate and unconditional release. #FreeThemAll

🟦 NEW POLITICAL PRISONERS WATCH: While enforced disappearance happens worldwide, some countries use the tactic to systematically silence dissent. Last month, our team looked at Pakistan as one such case: freedomhouse.org/article/poli...

An increasing number of governments worldwide are placing constraints on online anonymity, posing a direct threat to online privacy, free expression, and access to information. More from #FreedomOnTheNet 2025: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

Colombia and other countries that host Venezuelan exiles should do more to support those facing the threat of #transnationalrepression by offering proactive protection and respecting the right to seek asylum. Read more in our latest analysis: freedomhouse.org/article/tnr-...

Over the past decade, Freedom House has supported more than 25,000 at-risk human rights defenders in 140 countries with life-saving emergency assistance. This #GivingTuesday, your gift can help protect the next defender who needs us: connect.clickandpledge.com/w/Form/bff8a...

AI systems developed or deployed by repressive governments could be used to amplify existing threats to freedom of expression and privacy. More from #FreedomOnTheNet 2025: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

As of 2025, a little under 16% of the world’s internet users live in countries ranked Free by Freedom on the Net. More from #FreedomOnTheNet 2025: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

🟧NEW TNR WATCH: The Maduro regime has a track record of #transnationalrepression against Venezuelan exiles, with authorities orchestrating physical attacks, manipulating Interpol, weaponizing Venezuela’s repressive legal system & intimidating people online & offline: freedomhouse.org/article/tnr-...

🟨STATUS CHANGE: Our 2025 #FreedomOnTheNet report downgraded Serbia from Free to Partly Free. The government’s repressive response to student-led protests led to detentions of people who spoke out online in support of the protests. More details: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

🟪STATUS CHANGE: Our 2025 #FreedomOnTheNet report downgraded Nicaragua from Partly Free to Not Free. The government intensified its crackdown on independent press and dissent, using new technical censorship measures. More details: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

People in at least 57 of the 72 countries covered by #FreedomOnTheNet 2025 were arrested or imprisoned for online expression on social, political, or religious topics during the 12-month coverage period—a record high. freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

Which countries host the best and worst environments for internet freedom according to #FreedomOnTheNet 2025? 🟩 Best: Iceland (94/100) Estonia (91/100) Chile (87/100) 🟪 Worst: China (9/100) Myanmar (9/100) Iran (13/100) More data: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

📈 Kenya experienced the most severe decline in its internet freedom score, followed by Georgia and Venezuela. Dive deeper into the newest data from #FreedomOnTheNet 2025: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

Only 17 countries experienced score improvements in 2025. Bangladesh marked the strongest improvement, as a student-led uprising ousted the country’s repressive leadership in August 2024. Dive deeper into the newest data from #FreedomOnTheNet 2025: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

Of the 72 countries covered by #FreedomOnTheNet, 27 saw their scores decline and just 17 registered gains. 🗺️Explore the map: freedomhouse.org/explore-the-...

Read the latest Spotlight🔆on Freedom: 📱 Freedom on the Net 2025: An Uncertain Future for the Global Internet ⛓️ NEW Political Prisoners Watch 🟧 NEW Transnational Repression (TNR) Watch More: bit.ly/4i4loB2 Subscribe: bit.ly/Subscribe_FHnewsletter

Since June 2022, our China Dissent Monitor has documented 307 cases of “threatening to jump” (威胁跳楼) as a form of dissent, in which protesters typically stand or sit near the edge of a roof or other high location to draw attention to a perceived injustice. Read more: freedomhouse.org/report/china...

Data from our China Dissent Monitor show that such dissent over school safety issues in China is widespread, with 128 protests occurring in at least 73 cities across 23 provinces or regions since September 2022. Explore more about protest in China: freedomhouse.org/report/china...

Since June 2022, our China Dissent Monitor has recorded 182 protests related to conflict over school districts. Protests peak each year from June to August, just before the new school year. Explore more about protest in China: freedomhouse.org/report/china...

According to our China Dissent Monitor, since June 2022, schools & local education authorities have faced a total of 168 protests linked to unpaid wages or benefits & school closures/mergers. Explore more about protest in China: freedomhouse.org/report/china...

The newest installment of our China Dissent Monitor adds 1,392 dissent events to our database—a 45% year-on-year increase compared to Q3 2024. Most protests were led by workers (38%), property owners (29%), and rural residents (15%). Explore our data: freedomhouse.org/report/china...

“An innovative economic system rests on the rule of law and the presumption of freedom, rights, and liberties—principles that come under assault under autocratic rule.” Read more from Freedom House President Gerardo Berthin: freedomhouse.org/article/when...

Research shows that economies are more resilient where governments protect rights and liberties and uphold the rule of law. Read more from Freedom House President Gerardo Berthin: freedomhouse.org/article/when...

On this International Day of Political Prisoners, we’re proud to co-lead a joint statement—standing in solidarity with the estimated one million political prisoners detained worldwide. #FreeThemAll freedomhouse.org/article/join...

Read the latest Spotlight🔆on Freedom: 📈 When Business Meets Autocracy, the Stakes Rise for Everyone 🏛️ NEW SERIES: Foundations of Freedom – Civic Space 🟧 NEW Transnational Repression (TNR) Watch More: bit.ly/3WZUyQx Subscribe: bit.ly/Subscribe_FHnewsletter

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE: #FreedomOnTheNet 2025 launches on November 13! Reserve your spot at our virtual launch event featuring internet freedom experts from around the world by RSVPing below ⬇️ freedomhouse.org/event/report...

🪧 NEW: @FH_China’s China Dissent Monitor has now recorded 12,331 dissent events in China since June 2022. Our Q3 update focuses on schools as a venue for protest, large demonstrations sparked by school safety concerns, & threatening to jump as a form of protest. freedomhouse.org/report/china...

🏛️Introducing: Foundations of Freedom—a new series on the foundational elements of democracy & why they are essential in achieving a world where all people are free. Our first essay focuses on the importance of maintaining an open and robust civic space. Read more: freedomhouse.org/article/foun...

Today's Spotlight🔆on Freedom: ✊NEW China Dissent Monitor (CDM) 📢 STATEMENT: The War in Gaza Must End 💻POLICY ALERT: Freedom House Urges UN Member States to Refrain from Signing UN Convention Against Cybercrime More: bit.ly/4mV5PvW Subscribe: bit.ly/Subscribe_FHnewsletter

From his cell in Yaoundé Central Prison, Cameroonian journalist and political prisoner Tsi Conrad shares his concerns about Cameroon’s upcoming presidential election and the country's worsening democratic crisis. www.ft.com/content/7e91...

STATEMENT: After two years of devastation, the right of Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and freedom cannot be postponed any longer. freedomhouse.org/article/war-...

As governments gather later this month in Vietnam to sign onto the new UN Cybercrime Convention, Freedom House strongly urges states to refrain from signing and to instead pursue rights-respecting alternatives. Read our latest policy alert here: freedomhouse.org/article/free...

📣 NOW LIVE: Australia #TransnationalRepression (TNR) case study The Australian govt is aware of TNR and conducts outreach to diaspora communities, but their legislative and sanctions framework need reform to bolster the response. Read our new analysis: freedomhouse.org/report/speci...

Over the past decade, Freedom House has supported more than 25,000 at-risk human rights defenders worldwide. Today we are launching a new campaign to support many more. Every dollar counts. Donate today at www.FreedomHouse.org/Donate

The abduction of Beninese journalist Hugues Comlan Sossoukpè—who held refugee status in Togo—from a conference in Côte d’Ivoire demonstrates how #transnationalrepression (TNR) can imperil refugees. Read more in our latest analysis: freedomhouse.org/article/tnr-...

🟧 NEW TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION (TNR) WATCH: The purported involvement of Ivorian police in the forced return of a Beninese journalist to his home country underscores how cooperation between states facilitates #transnationalrepression: freedomhouse.org/article/tnr-...

Today's Spotlight🔆on Freedom: 🟧 NEW TNR WATCH 📢 Freedom House Condemns Kirk Assassination, Calls for End to Pattern of Political Violence 🏆 Call for nominations for the 2026 Mark Palmer Prize More: bit.ly/3IuIFP6 Subscribe: lnkd.in/dpBr643W

As the US and European allies continue to pursue an end to Russia's war against Ukraine, we urge policymakers to find new, creative ways to hold Lukashenka accountable for his enabling of Putin’s war, and for continued repression in Belarus. Read more: freedomhouse.org/article/repr...

In the wake of Jina Mahsa Amini's death three years ago today, we reiterate our solidarity with the #WomanLifeFreedom movement and urge the intl community to continue supporting the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations.

"Democratic governments should not be fooled by Lukashenka’s recent attempts to curry favor with the United States. He must be held accountable for his domestic repression and for his participation in the war against Ukraine." Read more: freedomhouse.org/article/repr...

On this #InternationalDayOfDemocracy, we are pleased to announce that @kettering.org has pledged $500,000 over 2yrs to support Freedom House’s Freedom in the World report, ensuring the continued production of our flagship annual report on the state of global freedom freedomhouse.org/article/char...

STATEMENT: We condemn the assassination of Charlie Kirk, whose murder is the latest in a series of attacks that threaten the basic operations of American politics, governance, and civil discourse. freedomhouse.org/article/unit...

Today's Spotlight🔆on Freedom: 🤝 Repression at Home Fuels Aggression Abroad: Now Is Not the Time to Ease Up on Lukashenka ✉️ Freedom House and Partners Urge States to Support Renewal of UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Russia More: bit.ly/4mf0bEB Subscribe: bit.ly/Subscribe_FHnewsletter

In violation of intl human rights treaties, Crimean Tatar activist Server Mustafayev was arrested in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory in 2018 and kept in pretrial detention for 17 months before his 14-year prison sentence on fabricated terrorism charges. freedomhouse.org/article/poli...

Today fewer donors are supporting work that protects courageous journalists, activists, and other rights defenders around the world. This critical moment calls for new supporters to step forward, along with unprecedented collaboration. freedomhouse.org/article/reth...

Ethnic Pashtun human rights defender Idris Khattak was detained for 2+ years in Pakistan until his conviction in December 2021 and sentencing to 14 years in prison. No court ever determined that his pretrial detention was reasonable or necessary. freedomhouse.org/article/poli...

Between 2007 and early 2025, Freedom House’s Emergency Assistance Program supported 17,000+ human rights defenders, orgs, & survivors globally. Amid funding cuts, unprecedented collaboration is needed to support those defending rights around the world. freedomhouse.org/article/reth...