The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

The record

Incidents, national level, outcome unknown

Each incident is a dated action by a government, an official, a regulator, a court or a legislature that limited journalists' ability to gather or publish news.

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

All filters: country, dates, head of government, sort
CountryBrazil, RSF 2026 rank: 52nd of 180Egypt, RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180Germany, RSF 2026 rank: 14th of 180Hungary, RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180India, RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180Iran, RSF 2026 rank: 177th of 180Israel, RSF 2026 rank: 116th of 180Malaysia, RSF 2026 rank: 95th of 180MaltaMexicoPhilippines, RSF 2026 rank: 114th of 180Saudi Arabia, RSF 2026 rank: 176th of 180Tanzania, RSF 2026 rank: 117th of 180Türkiye, RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180Zimbabwe, RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180
ContinentAfricaAsiaEuropeNorth AmericaSouth America
TacticSurveillance and subpoenas 8Detention and violence 5Prior restraint 5Funding and ownership pressure 4Access bans 3Shutdowns and blocking 3Insult and defamation laws 2Expulsion and visa denial 2Licensing and closure of outlets 2Official labels 1Lawsuits against the press 1Secrets and espionage laws 1
StageRestrict 2Pressure 10Punish 9Silence 4Eliminate 1
OutcomeUnknown 26
LevelNational 26
Head of governmentAbdel Fattah el-SisiArtur da Costa e SilvaBarack ObamaBenjamin NetanyahuDonald TrumpDwight D. EisenhowerEnrique Pena NietoJoe BidenJohn MagufuliJoseph MuscatKonrad AdenauerMahathir MohamadMahmoud AhmadinejadNarendra ModiRecep Tayyip ErdoğanRichard NixonRobert MugabeRodrigo DuterteSalman bin Abdulaziz Al SaudSamia Suluhu HassanViktor Orban

26 incidents match this view.

TableCardsCSVJSONMarkdown
DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
10 February 2026India: one-year prison sentence for the journalist Ravi Nair in a criminal defamation case, February 2026India (RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsNarendra ModiUnknown (10 February 2026)
29 October 2025Tanzania shuts down internet access on election day amid unrestTanzania (RSF 2026 rank: 117th of 180)Shutdowns and blockingSamia Suluhu HassanUnknown
1 May 2025United States: Executive Order 14290 directing an end to federal funding for NPR and PBS, May 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureDonald TrumpUnknown
19 March 2025Türkiye: detention, injury and deportation of journalists covering protests, March 2025Türkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Detention and violenceRecep Tayyip ErdoğanUnknown (2 April 2025)
6 February 2025Border czar Tom Homan says ICE media ride-alongs may end over leaksUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpUnknown
21 August 2023India: Gaon Savera's Facebook and X accounts blockedIndia (RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180)Shutdowns and blockingNarendra ModiUnknown
14 February 2023Indian tax authorities search BBC offices weeks after Modi documentary banIndia (RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasNarendra ModiUnknown
6 November 2021FBI raids Project Veritas founder's home over Ashley Biden diary investigationUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasJoe BidenUnknown
12 September 2020Political appointees alter CDC coronavirus guidance before public releaseUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Prior restraintDonald TrumpUnknown
30 March 2020Hungary criminalizes false coronavirus information and grants Orban decree powersHungary (RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsViktor OrbanUnknown
22 March 2019Egypt: media law used to fine and block news site al-MashhadEgypt (RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180)Official labelsAbdel Fattah el-SisiUnknown (7 May 2019)
2 October 2018Saudi Arabia's government kills journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside its Istanbul consulateSaudi Arabia (RSF 2026 rank: 176th of 180)Detention and violenceSalman bin Abdulaziz Al SaudUnknown
1 October 2018Saudi Arabia: spyware on an associate's phone precedes Jamal Khashoggi's killing by one daySaudi Arabia (RSF 2026 rank: 176th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasSalman bin Abdulaziz Al SaudUnknown (1 October 2018)
16 March 2018Tanzania requires bloggers and online publishers to register and pay an annual government feeTanzania (RSF 2026 rank: 117th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsJohn MagufuliUnknown (12 April 2018)
21 February 2018Philippines: a Rappler reporter is barred from the presidential palacePhilippines (RSF 2026 rank: 114th of 180)Access bansRodrigo DuterteUnknown (21 February 2018)
19 June 2017Mexico: journalist Carmen Aristegui receives Pegasus spyware through phishing textsMexico (RSF rank: not recorded)Surveillance and subpoenasEnrique Pena NietoUnknown (20 June 2017)
February 2017Malta: minister orders reporter's bank account frozenMalta (RSF rank: not recorded)Lawsuits against the pressJoseph MuscatUnknown
10 October 2013United States: Espionage Act prosecutions of sources for leaks to the press, 2009 to 2013United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsBarack ObamaUnknown
June 2010Israel: a court bars any mention of the 'Prisoner X' caseIsrael (RSF 2026 rank: 116th of 180)Prior restraintBenjamin NetanyahuUnknown (1 June 2010)
21 June 2009Iran expels a BBC correspondent and restricts foreign journalists after a disputed 2009 electionIran (RSF 2026 rank: 177th of 180)Expulsion and visa denialMahmoud AhmadinejadUnknown
15 March 2002Zimbabwe enacts a law requiring all journalists and media houses to hold government licensesZimbabwe (RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsRobert MugabeUnknown
20 September 1998Malaysia pressures domestic media and monitors foreign correspondents after arresting former deputy premier Anwar IbrahimMalaysia (RSF 2026 rank: 95th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasMahathir MohamadUnknown
9 September 1971United States: Nixon White House "enemies list" naming journalists, September 1971United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasRichard NixonUnknown
13 December 1968Brazil's military government decrees the Fifth Institutional Act and moves to control the pressBrazil (RSF 2026 rank: 52nd of 180)Prior restraintArtur da Costa e SilvaUnknown
26 October 1962West Germany: police raid Der Spiegel's offices and arrest its editors over a defense articleGermany (RSF 2026 rank: 14th of 180)Detention and violenceKonrad AdenauerUnknown
1953United States: Senator Joseph McCarthy's subcommittee questions New York Post editor James Wechsler, 1953United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasDwight D. EisenhowerUnknown
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