FREEDOM ON THE NET 2021 • • The Global Drive to Control Big Tech Do digital platforms and content hosts arbitrarily remove such content due to informal or formal pressure from government officials or other powerful political actors? Are access providers, content hosts, and third parties free from excessive or improper legal responsibility for opinions expressed by third parties transmitted via the technology they supply? 3. Do restrictions on the internet and digital content lack transparency, proportionality to the stated aims, or an independent appeals process? (0–4 points) • Are there national laws, independent oversight bodies, and other democratically accountable procedures in place to ensure that decisions to restrict access to certain content are proportional to their stated aim? • Are those that restrict content—including state authorities, ISPs, content hosts, digital platforms, and other intermediaries—transparent about what content is blocked or deleted? • Do efficient and timely avenues of appeal exist for those who find content they produced to have been subjected to censorship? 4. Do online journalists, commentators, and ordinary users practice self-censorship? (0–4 points) • Do internet users in the country engage in self-censorship on important political, social, or religious issues? • Are there unspoken rules that prevent users from expressing certain opinions via news sites, blogs, social media platforms, or private messages? • Do users avoid discussion of subjects that are likely to lead to retribution or result in censorship? • Do state surveillance or data collection practices have a chilling effect on online speech or cause users to avoid certain online activities of a civic nature? • Where widespread self-censorship exists, do some journalists, commentators, or ordinary users continue to test the boundaries, despite the potential repercussions? 5. Are online sources of information controlled or manipulated by the government or other powerful actors to advance a particular political interest? (0–4 points) • Do government officials or other powerful actors pressure or coerce online news outlets, journalists, or bloggers to follow a particular editorial direction in their reporting and commentary? • Do authorities issue official guidelines or directives on coverage to online media outlets, including instructions to downplay or amplify certain comments or topics for discussion? • Do government officials or other actors bribe or use close economic ties with online journalists, bloggers, website owners, or service providers in order to influence the content they produce or host? • Do government officials or other actors surreptitiously employ individuals or automated systems to artificially amplify political narratives or smear campaigns on social media? • Does disinformation, coordinated by foreign or domestic actors for political purposes, have a significant impact on public debate? 6. Are there economic, regulatory, or other constraints that negatively affect users’ ability to publish content online? (0–3 points) • Are favorable informal connections with government officials necessary for online media outlets or service providers (e.g., search engines, email applications, blog-hosting platforms) to be economically viable? • Does the state limit the ability of online media to accept advertising or investment, particularly from foreign sources, or does it discourage advertisers from conducting business with disfavored online media or service providers? • Do onerous taxes, regulations, or licensing fees present an obstacle to participation in, establishment of, or management of online news outlets, blogs, or social media groups/channels? • Do ISPs manage network traffic and bandwidth availability in a manner that is transparent, is evenly applied, and does not discriminate against users or producers of content based on the nature or source of the content itself (i.e., do they respect “net neutrality” with regard to content)? • Does a lack of competition among content hosts and digital platforms limit users’ ability to publish content online? 7. Does the online information landscape lack diversity and reliability? (0–4 points) • Are people able to access a range of local, regional, and international news sources that convey independent, balanced views in the main languages spoken in the country? 32 @freedomonthenet #FreedomOnTheNet