Online freedom hit as governments ramp up surveillance

Global online freedom declined for a fifth consecutive year as governments around the world stepped up surveillance and censorship efforts, a study showed Wednesday.

 The annual report by non-government watchdog Freedom House said the setbacks were especially noticeable in the Middle East, reversing gains seen in the Arab Spring.

 Freedom House found declines in online freedom of expression in 32 of the 65 countries assessed since June 2014, with "notable declines" in Libya, France and Ukraine.

 The deterioration also stems from governments pressuring Internet firms -- including US giants like Google and Twitter but also locally-based services -- to remove disputed content, even satire which is aimed at leaders, the Freedom House report said.

 Some governments are taking the strategy of targeting online companies because "they know that average users have become more technologically savvy and are often able to circumvent state-imposed blocks," said Sanja Kelly, project director for the report.

 Kelly said that the response around the world to revelations about vast US surveillance efforts has led to many governments ramping up their own efforts.

 She said than many countries, including democratic regimes, have implemented "stronger surveillance and data retention laws" following the revelations from documents leaked by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

 "Instead of real reforms, we are seeing more countries pass laws to increase their surveillance power," she said.

 The researchers found 61 percent of Internet users live in countries where criticism of the government, military or ruling family has been subject to censorship.

 And 58 percent live in countries where bloggers or others were jailed for sharing content online on political, social and religious issues, according to the "Freedom on the Net 2015" report.

 Freedom House said governments in 14 of the 65 countries passed laws over the past year to step up electronic surveillance.

 In another new strategy, a number of governments are taking aim at encryption by users to avoid surveillance.

 Some countries "are trying to stigmatize encryption," Kelly said, citing Turkey as one example.

 "They are saying if you are using encryption you must be a terrorist."

 She added that "undermining online encryption and anonymity weakens the Internet for everyone, but especially for human rights activists and independent journalists."