Central Idea

Freedom House’s latest report highlights the 13th consecutive year of declining global Internet freedom.
This decline has seen deteriorations in the human rights online situation in 29 countries, with only 20 countries registering improvements.

Report: ‘Freedom on the Net 2023: The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence’

Key Concerns: The report underscores the escalating use of artificial intelligence (AI) by governments worldwide, emphasizing its role in censorship and the dissemination of disinformation.
Scope: Covering events from June 2022 to May 2023, the 13th edition evaluates Internet freedom in 70 countries, collectively accounting for 88% of global Internet users.

Iran’s Sharp Rise in Digital Repression: Iran witnessed the sharpest escalation in digital repression. Authorities resorted to Internet shutdowns, blocked WhatsApp and Instagram, and intensified surveillance to quell anti-government protests.
China’s Perennial Status: For the ninth consecutive year, China retained its position as the world’s worst environment for Internet freedom, followed by Myanmar, the second most repressive nation concerning online freedoms.

Global Crackdown on Expression: The report highlights that individuals faced legal consequences for online expression in a record 55 countries this year.
Widespread Arrests: The number of countries conducting widespread arrests and imposing multi-year prison terms for online activities has surged, growing from 18 in 2014 to 31 in 2023.
Elections as Triggers: Elections emerged as triggers for digital repression. Ahead of elections, incumbent leaders in various countries criminalized speech, restricted access to independent news sites, and imposed information controls to influence the electoral outcome in their favor.

Censorship in Legal Framework: The report spotlights India’s inclusion of censorship, including AI-based systems, within its legal framework. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules mandate large social media platforms to employ AI-based moderation tools for diverse types of content.
Example – BBC Documentary: The report cites the Indian government’s directive to YouTube and Twitter to restrict access to a BBC documentary on communal violence. The IT Rules compel these platforms to use automated scanning tools to remove related content.

5 Censorship Methods: The report evaluates countries on five censorship methods:

Further Censorship Actions: India has also been involved in blocking websites featuring political, social, or religious content, disrupting ICT networks, deploying pro-government commentators to manipulate online discussions, and conducting technical attacks against government critics and human rights organizations.
Digital Freedom Index: On a scale of 1 to 100, where ‘100’ represents the highest digital freedom and ‘1’ signifies the worst repression, India received a score of 50. In contrast, Iceland emerged as the leader with a score of 94, boasting the best climate for Internet freedom.

Uneven Playing Field: As India prepares for general elections in 2024, the government’s expanding censorship regime is highlighted as a threat to Indian democracy.
Curb on free speech: It suppresses criticism and independent reporting on the ruling party.

The report’s findings underscore the global decline in Internet freedom, driven partly by the increasing use of AI for censorship and disinformation campaigns.
The implications of this trend on freedom of expression, privacy, and democracy necessitate vigilant monitoring and international action to protect digital rights in an increasingly interconnected world.