Global press freedom falls to 25-year low, watchdogs warn

International media rights organizations have warned that press freedom around the world has declined to its worst level in 25 years, citing growing government crackdowns, restrictive laws, and rising threats against journalists.

The warning followed the release of the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, which showed that more than half of the world’s countries now operate under what the group describes as “difficult” or “very serious” media conditions.

According to the report, 52.2 percent of countries assessed in the index recorded severe restrictions on independent journalism, marking the sharpest decline since the index was first introduced 25 years ago.

Media rights advocates say one of the most troubling developments is the increasing use of national security and anti-terrorism laws to suppress investigative reporting and dissenting voices.

RSF Editorial Director Anne Bocandé said governments across multiple regions are expanding legal tools that intimidate journalists and discourage public-interest reporting.

She called for stronger protections for media professionals, including safeguards against strategic lawsuits aimed at silencing reporters and independent news organizations.

Analysts noted that the legal environment for journalists deteriorated in more than 60 percent of countries reviewed in the report.

The report stated that press freedom challenges are no longer limited to authoritarian states, with several democratic countries also experiencing significant decline.

The United States reportedly dropped seven places in the rankings to 64th position, with observers linking the decline to political hostility toward media institutions and budget reductions affecting international broadcasters such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.

Meanwhile, countries including Norway continued to rank among the strongest performers due to longstanding legal protections for journalists and institutional transparency.

At the lower end of the rankings, countries such as China, North Korea, and Eritrea remained among the world’s most restrictive environments for independent media.

The report also highlighted worsening conditions in parts of Latin America, including Ecuador and Peru, where attacks and killings targeting journalists reportedly contributed to steep declines in rankings.

The issue of digital disruption also dominated discussions at global press freedom events held in Lusaka under the theme of protecting media freedom and democratic resilience.

Experts participating in UNESCO-backed discussions warned that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence tools and algorithm-driven social media systems is reshaping the global information environment.

According to participants, algorithmic amplification of misinformation and politically polarized content is undermining public trust while making it increasingly difficult for independent news organizations to remain financially sustainable.

Policy experts at the summit argued that attacks on journalism are increasingly tied to broader democratic decline around the world.

Advocates warned that weakening press freedom often precedes wider restrictions on civil liberties, political opposition, and public accountability.

The latest findings have renewed calls for governments, international institutions, and civil society organizations to strengthen legal protections for journalists and impose consequences on actors accused of targeting independent media.

Observers say the report reflects a growing global concern that the erosion of press freedom is becoming one of the defining democratic challenges of the modern era.