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A 5G testing spot is provided by a Chinese telecoms company in Chengdu downtown. China has invested significantly in 5G infrastructure development. Editorial Credit: Editorial credit: B.Zhou / Shutterstock.com.

Technology & Democracy

Rapidly advancing information and communication technologies have had a profound impact on democracy around the world.

Rapidly advancing information and communication technologies have had a profound impact on democracy around the world. They have provided new platforms for civic mobilization and the dissemination of news and commentary, but they are also subject to censorship, surveillance, and exploitation by antidemocratic forces.

With regards to internet freedom, Freedom House counteracts the rising tide of government control over the internet. We produce the preeminent analysis of global online freedom, the annual Freedom on the Net report, empower local experts in dozens of countries to speak up for the rights of internet users, and assist activists in recovering from digital attacks.

Election Watch for the Digital Age Twitter Card

NEW: Election Watch for the Digital Age

Freedom House is piloting a new research initiative to investigate the interplay between digital platforms and election integrity. Election Watch for the Digital Age equips technology companies, civil society organizations, and policymakers with a data-driven resource for evaluating the human rights impact of internet platforms on a country’s electoral process. 

Learn More

Featured Analysis

A young woman wearing a protective mask looks at her smartphone while passing by a grafitti representing two big watching eyes in Berlin, Germany on April 1, 2020. Illustrative Editorial (Photo by Emmanuele Contini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The Pandemic's Digital Shadow

Freedom on the Net

Hexagon network covering the world map with glowing data centers and shield symbols global cybersecurity

User Privacy or Cyber Sovereignty?

Special Report

Black Lives Matter protest in Atlanta June 2020

How Domestic Spying Tools Undermine Racial Justice Protests

Perspectives

June 22, 2020

News & Perspectives:

Thermal surveillance camera at Turkey mall during COVID-19 pandemic

Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Internet Freedom Is Under Attack in The Middle East and North Africa

Perspectives

January 19, 2021

 A visitor's temperature is taken with an Iris Thermal Scanning device at the entrance to Edge Observation Deck at Hudson Yards on September 4, 2020 in New York City. Photo credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images.

Report: Global Internet Freedom Declines in Shadow of Pandemic

Press release

October 14, 2020

India TikTok phone case at protest

India’s TikTok Ban Tightens the Government’s Grasp on the Internet

Perspectives

July 31, 2020

Turkey Parliament Social Media voting

Turkey: Passage of Social Media Law Curtails Human Rights Online

Press release

July 30, 2020

Protest for the Release of Taner Kılıç

Turkey: Büyükada Trial Verdict Lays Bare Assault on Human Rights

Press release

July 9, 2020

Moscow protest amid COVID

On Social Control, the Kremlin’s Reach May Exceed Its Grasp

Perspectives

July 8, 2020

protester holds sign that says freedom is a right not a privilege hong kong china

China Media Bulletin

The monthly China Media Bulletin provides unique insight on censorship, media freedom, and internet freedom issues related to the People's Republic of China, drawing on both English and Chinese-language sources. Click to learn more, or subscribe here. 

Learn More

Freedom House in the Media:

bloomberg logo

Biden’s Uphill Battle to Hold the Internet Together opens in new tab

December 23, 2020

CNN logo

Governments are using the pandemic to crack down on digital rights, report finds opens in new tab

October 14, 2020

WIRED logo

Internet Freedom Has Taken a Hit During the Covid-19 Pandemic opens in new tab

October 14, 2020

Featured Experts

Adrian Shahbaz Expert Photo

Adrian Shahbaz

Director, Technology and Democracy

adrianshahbaz

Allie Funk Expert Photo

Allie Funk

Senior Research Analyst, Technology and Democracy

alfunk

Kian Vesteinsson Expert Photo

Kian Vesteinsson

Research Analyst

kianvest

For media inquiries, please contact [email protected].  

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