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 upheld by a court

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
CountryHong Kong, RSF 2026 rank: 140th of 180Hungary, RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180Philippines, RSF 2026 rank: 114th of 180Russia, RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180ThailandUnited Kingdom, RSF 2026 rank: 18th of 180United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180Zimbabwe, RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180
ContinentAfricaAsiaEuropeNorth America
TacticSecrets and espionage laws 6Detention and violence 4Insult and defamation laws 3Surveillance and subpoenas 3Shutdowns and blocking 3Licensing and closure of outlets 1Credential control 1Prior restraint 1Expulsion and visa denial 1Lawsuits against the press 1
StagePunish 10Silence 4Eliminate 2
OutcomeUpheld by a court 16
LevelNational 16
Head of governmentBarack ObamaDavid CameronGeorge H. W. BushGeorge W. BushJohn LeeRichard NixonRobert MugabeRonald ReaganViktor OrbanVladimir PutinWilliam Howard TaftWoodrow WilsonYingluck Shinawatra

16 incidents match this view.

TableCardsCSVJSONMarkdown
DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
29 August 2024Hong Kong court convicts Stand News editors of seditionHong Kong (RSF 2026 rank: 140th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsJohn LeeUpheld by a court (26 September 2024)
14 February 2021Hungary: Klubradio loses its terrestrial broadcast license over its tender applicationHungary (RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsViktor OrbanUpheld by a court (1 September 2021)
18 August 2013United Kingdom detains journalist's partner under terrorism law and oversees destruction of Guardian hard drives holding Snowden filesUnited Kingdom (RSF 2026 rank: 18th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasDavid CameronUpheld by a court (19 January 2016)
25 January 2013United States prosecutes former CIA officer John Kiriakou under the Espionage Act for identifying a covert colleague to a journalistUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsBarack ObamaUpheld by a court (3 February 2015)
24 January 2013Thailand: magazine editor Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is sentenced to 11 years under the lese-majeste lawThailand (RSF rank: not recorded)Insult and defamation lawsYingluck ShinawatraUpheld by a court (30 April 2018)
7 October 2006Investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya is shot dead in Moscow; a former police officer is later convicted of organizing the killingRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Detention and violenceVladimir PutinUpheld by a court (9 June 2014)
6 July 2005New York Times reporter Judith Miller jailed for refusing to name a confidential source in the Valerie Plame affairUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasGeorge W. BushUpheld by a court (29 September 2005)
12 May 2005Zimbabwe: the High Court refuses to accredit Daily News journalists under the media registration lawZimbabwe (RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180)Credential controlRobert MugabeUpheld by a court (12 May 2005)
8 November 1990United States federal court bars CNN from broadcasting recordings of Manuel Noriega's calls with his lawyersUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Prior restraintGeorge H. W. BushUpheld by a court (18 November 1990)
1985United States: Espionage Act conviction of Samuel Loring Morison for leaking satellite photographs to Jane's Defence Weekly, 1985 to 1988United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsRonald ReaganUpheld by a court (1 January 1988)
1969United States Supreme Court rules reporters have no privilege to refuse grand jury subpoenasUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasRichard NixonUpheld by a court (29 June 1972)
26 June 1918United States convicts newspaper editor Jacob Frohwerk under the Espionage Act, June 1918United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (10 March 1919)
July 1917United States postmaster bars the magazine The Masses from the mail under the Espionage ActUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (1 November 1917)
1917United States convicts Mother Earth editor Emma Goldman of draft conspiracy and bars her magazine from the mailUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Detention and violenceWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (14 January 1918)
1917United States Postmaster General Burleson strips the Milwaukee Leader of its mailing rateUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Shutdowns and blockingWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (7 March 1921)
1901Philippines: United States colonial government's libel law is used to close the newspaper El RenacimientoPhilippines (RSF 2026 rank: 114th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsWilliam Howard TaftUpheld by a court (1 January 1914)
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