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Expanding Freedom and Democracy
Freedom on the Net 2026

Nicaragua

Not Free
36
100
A Obstacles to Access 12 25
B Limits on Content 12 35
C Violations of User Rights 12 40
Last Year's Score & Status
38 100 Not Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free). See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
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header1 Overview

Internet freedom declined in Nicaragua amid a deepening crackdown on dissent more broadly since the country’s 2018 antigovernment protests. Given the risk of reprisals from the regime, opposition figures, independent journalists, and ordinary people continued to self-censor or opt for anonymity when expressing themselves online. Virtually all independent online media outlets had to operate from exile due to state repression, while facing significant operating constraints.1 A new telecommunications law, which could be used to further restrict online content and facilitate state surveillance, took effect during the coverage period.2

This report has been abridged for Freedom on the Net 2026. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource. For additional information, see the 2024 full report and 2025 abridged report.

A Obstacles to Access

A1 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Do infrastructural limitations restrict access to the internet or the speed and quality of internet connections? 4.004 6.006

Score Change: The score improved from 3 to 4 because electricity blackouts appeared to be less frequent compared to the previous coverage period.

A2 1.00-3.00 pts0-3 pts
Is access to the internet prohibitively expensive or beyond the reach of certain segments of the population for geographical, social, or other reasons? 0.000 3.003
A3 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Does the government exercise technical or legal control over internet infrastructure for the purposes of restricting connectivity? 5.005 6.006
A4 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Are there legal, regulatory, or economic obstacles that restrict the diversity of service providers? 3.003 6.006
A5 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Do national regulatory bodies that oversee service providers, digital platforms, and the internet more broadly fail to operate in a free, fair, and independent manner? 0.000 4.004

B Limits on Content

B1 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Does the state block or filter, or compel service providers to block or filter, internet content, particularly material that is protected by international human rights standards? 4.004 6.006
B2 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Do state or nonstate actors employ legal, administrative, or other means to force publishers, digital platforms, content hosts, or other intermediaries to delete content, particularly material that is protected by international human rights standards? 1.001 4.004
B3 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Do restrictions on the internet and digital content lack transparency, proportionality to the stated aims, or an independent appeals process? 1.001 4.004
B4 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Do journalists, commentators, and ordinary people practice self-censorship online? 0.000 4.004

Score Change: The score declined from 1 to 0 because routine arrests, surveillance, and harassment have led to an environment in which Nicaraguans regularly self-censor their opinions online and their communications with those in exile.1

B5 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Are online sources of information controlled or manipulated by the government or other powerful actors to advance a favored interest? 1.001 4.004
B6 1.00-3.00 pts0-3 pts
Are there economic, regulatory, or other constraints that negatively affect individuals’ ability to publish content online? 1.001 3.003
B7 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Does the online information landscape lack diversity and reliability? 1.001 4.004

Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 due to further constraints on independent online reporting in recent years, including the shuttering of outlets by the government or because of operating challenges,1 increasing numbers of independent journalists now in exile,2 the absence of independent journalism in more than half of the country,3 and blocks on several news sites.

B8 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Do conditions impede individuals’ ability to form communities, mobilize, and campaign online, particularly on political and social issues? 3.003 6.006

C Violations of User Rights

C1 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Do the constitution or other laws fail to protect rights such as freedom of expression, access to information, and press freedom, including on the internet, and are they enforced by a judiciary that lacks independence? 1.001 6.006
C2 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Are there laws that assign criminal penalties or civil liability for online activities, particularly those that are protected under international human rights standards? 0.000 4.004
C3 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Are individuals penalized for online activities, particularly those that are protected under international human rights standards? 1.001 6.006
C4 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Does the government place restrictions on anonymous online communication or encryption? 4.004 4.004
C5 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Does state surveillance of internet activities infringe on individuals’ right to privacy? 2.002 6.006
C6 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Does monitoring and collection of user data by service providers and other technology companies infringe on individuals’ right to privacy? 2.002 6.006

Score Change: The score declined from 3 to 2 because the General Law on Convergent Telecommunications, which came into effect during the coverage period, required telecommunications companies and audiovisual communications service providers to give the telecommunications regulator “all information requested,”1 which could grant the government essentially unfettered access to dissidents’ personal user data.2

C7 1.00-5.00 pts0-5 pts
Are individuals subject to extralegal intimidation or physical violence by state authorities or any other actor in relation to their online activities? 1.001 5.005
C8 1.00-3.00 pts0-3 pts
Are websites, governmental and private entities, service providers, or individuals subject to widespread hacking and other forms of cyberattack? 1.001 3.003

On Nicaragua

See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

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Country Facts

  • Population

    6,948,000

  • Global Freedom Score

    14 100 not free

  • Internet Freedom Score

    36 100 not free

  • Freedom in the World Status

    Not Free