Freedom House Freedom on the Net 2023 covers 70 countries in 6 regions around the world. The countries were chosen to illustrate internet freedom improvements and declines in a variety of political systems. Each country receives a numerical score from 100 (the most free) to 0 (the least free), which serves as the basis for an internet freedom status designation of FREE (100-70 points), PARTLY FREE (69-40 points), or NOT FREE (39-0 points). Ratings are determined through an examination of three broad categories: A. OBSTACLES TO ACCESS: Assesses infrastructural, economic, and political barriers to access; government decisions to shut off connectivity or block specific applications or technologies; legal, regulatory, and ownership control over internet service providers; and independence of regulatory bodies. B. LIMITS ON CONTENT: Examines legal regulations on content; technical filtering and blocking of websites; other forms of censorship and self-censorship; the vibrancy and diversity of the online environment; and the use of digital tools for civic mobilization. C. VIOLATIONS OF USER RIGHTS: Details legal protections and restrictions on free expression; surveillance and privacy; and legal and extralegal repercussions for online activities, such as prosecution, extralegal harassment and physical attacks, or cyberattacks. 56 54 53 52 52 51 51 50 50 47 47 44 43 42 42 41 39 37 37 34 30 30 30 29 28 28 26 26 25 25 25 22 21 20 10 9 Th eG am bia Sin gap ore Mo r Kyr occo gyz s Sri tan Lan ka Ug and Zim a bab we Ind Leb ia ano n Ind one sia Jor da Ca mb n od ia Ira q Lib y Nic a ar Ban agua gla des h Th aila nd Aze rba ijan Rw Kaz anda akh sta n Sud Un an ited Tu Ara b E rkey mir Ven ates ezu e Bah la rain Egy Eth pt iop Pak ia ista n B Sau elaru s di A Uz rabia bek ist Vie an tna m Ru ssia Cu ba Ira n My anm ar Ch ina 11 @freedomhouse freedomhouse.org 27

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