The Unfreedom Monitor Country and Thematic Reports

"Authoritarian regimes have long had a complicated relationship with media and communications technologies."

 

These reports have been published by The Unfreedom Monitor, a research project of Global Voices Advox that analyses, documents, and reports on the growing use of digital communications technology to advance authoritarian governance around the world - also known as digital authoritarianism. They include country reports that explore the phenomenon of digital authoritarianism, as well as theme-based reports that explore certain aspects of this practice across a range of countries.



As The Unfreedom Monitor project explains, "Authoritarian and dictatorial regimes have long had a complicated relationship with media and communications technologies, using them to advance their own goals and propaganda. At the same time, they restrict access for some to technology and information, helping them to shape and warp reality, conceal abuses, and maintain power. As more and more people use the internet and other technologies these dynamics only become stronger. This means that, despite its goals for good, the internet is sometimes used by authoritarian-minded governments as a tool for deception, propaganda and control."



The project, therefore, seeks to understand what motivates, shapes, and influences digital authoritarianism around the world, no matter the style of government or political system. Starting with eleven pilot countries in Phase 1 (January - March 2022), the project sought to develop a method for naming digital authoritarianism, so that it could be addressed and prevented by those wanting to support freedom of expression. The countries included in the analysis were: Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Morocco, Myanmar, Russia, Sudan, Tanzania, Turkey, and Zimbabwe. Phase II was launched in June 2022, with the addition of new countries, which include, among others: Ecuador, Tanzania, Venezuela, El Salvador, and Hungary. For more information on the project and the methodology used to track and monitor digital authoritarianism, see Related Summaries, below.  



The reports include the following, although more will be added:

Unfreedom Monitor Report Country Reports: These reports seek to provide a general understanding of digital authoritarianism in each country in relation to political events that have unfolded in the country.

 

• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kyrgyzstan Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Cameroon Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Hong Kong Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kenya Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Hungary Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Venezuela Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Philippines Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: El Salvador Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Ecuador Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kazakhstan Country Report
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Myanmar Country Report

Unfreedom Monitor Thematic Reports:

• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Speech - This report examines the thematic area of speech under the Unfreedom Monitor, highlighting the range of state-led threats and narratives to stifle such freedoms, using the Republic of Rwanda as a case study.
• Unfreedom Monitor Report: Access - This report discusses the key findings of internet shutdowns and service interruption incidents. It builds on Iran's internet interruptions after Mahsa Amini's death and the Russian Wikipedia blocking to explain how internet blockades have become a dominant way for draconian regimes to repress the population and limit transparency and accountability. It also explains how punitive taxation and excessive legislation constitute authoritarian practices whenever they are aimed at maintaining political control and repression over the population.

Click here to access the dataset that underpins the research.