Invest in Freedom’s Future. Support Freedom House.
Expanding Freedom and Democracy
Freedom on the Net 2026

United Kingdom

Free
75
100
A Obstacles to Access 24 25
B Limits on Content 27 35
C Violations of User Rights 24 40
Last Year's Score & Status
76 100 Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free). See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
united-kingdom_hero_map

header1 Overview

Internet freedom in the United Kingdom declined slightly during the coverage period, because authorities charged a group of people with terrorism offenses for arranging Zoom meetings to discuss mobilization strategies in support of Palestine Action, an advocacy group proscribed by the UK government.1 Privacy concerns persisted in relation to the government’s efforts to obtain encrypted data from Apple and its enforcement of the Online Safety Act, which requires social media companies and internet providers to shield underage users from illegal, “harmful” content through age-verification mechanisms.2 Nonetheless, the overall environment remained free, as the government did not impose major restrictions on content or website blocks.

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? 6.006 6.006
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? 3.003 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? 6.006 6.006
A4 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Are there legal, regulatory, or economic obstacles that restrict the diversity of service providers? 5.005 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? 4.004 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? 3.003 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? 3.003 4.004
B4 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Do journalists, commentators, and ordinary people practice self-censorship online? 3.003 4.004
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? 3.003 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? 3.003 3.003
B7 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Does the online information landscape lack diversity and reliability? 3.003 4.004
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? 5.005 6.006

Score Change: The score declined from 6 to 5 because authorities charged activists with terrorism offences for organizing Zoom meetings and proscribed the online and offline activities of Palestine Action.1

  • 1Ruth Comerford, “Six charged with Terrorism Offences over Support for Palestine Action.”

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? 5.005 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? 2.002 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? 4.004 6.006
C4 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Does the government place restrictions on anonymous online communication or encryption? 2.002 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? 3.003 6.006
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? 4.004 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? 2.002 3.003

On United Kingdom

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

See More

Country Facts

  • Population

    66,970,000

  • Global Freedom Score

    92 100 free

  • Internet Freedom Score

    75 100 free

  • Freedom in the World Status

    Free