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: official labels

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
CountryBelarus, RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180CubaEgypt, RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180Georgia, RSF 2026 rank: 135th of 180Hungary, RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180India, RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180Nicaragua, RSF 2026 rank: 168th of 180Pakistan, RSF 2026 rank: 153rd of 180Russia, RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180Viet Nam
ContinentAfricaAsiaEuropeNorth America
TacticOfficial labels 13Funding and ownership pressure 4Licensing and closure of outlets 1Prior restraint 1Expulsion and visa denial 1
StagePressure 11Punish 1Eliminate 1
OutcomeSustained 9Reversed 2Ongoing 1Unknown 1
LevelNational 13
Head of governmentAbdel Fattah el-SisiAlexander LukashenkoDaniel OrtegaDonald TrumpFidel CastroIrakli KobakhidzeNarendra ModiNguyen Tan DungShehbaz SharifViktor OrbanVladimir Putin

13 incidents match this view.

TableCardsCSVJSONMarkdown
DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
4 August 2026Russia: asset freezes on exiled "foreign agents", Aug 2026Russia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Official labelsVladimir PutinSustained (4 August 2026)
29 January 2025Pakistan amends cybercrime law to create new agency policing 'fake' online contentPakistan (RSF 2026 rank: 153rd of 180)Official labelsShehbaz SharifSustained
22 January 2025FCC chair reopens 'news distortion' complaints against CBS and NBCUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureDonald TrumpOngoing
28 May 2024Georgia 'foreign influence' law for media, 2024Georgia (RSF 2026 rank: 135th of 180)Official labelsIrakli KobakhidzeSustained
March 2024Bombay High Court strikes down India's government 'fact check unit' ruleIndia (RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180)Official labelsNarendra ModiReversed (20 September 2024)
20 December 2023Hungary: National Sovereignty Protection Act and Sovereignty Protection Office, December 2023Hungary (RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180)Official labelsViktor OrbanReversed (30 June 2026)
15 February 2023Nicaragua strips 94 political opponents, including journalists, of citizenshipNicaragua (RSF 2026 rank: 168th of 180)Expulsion and visa denialDaniel OrtegaSustained
9 March 2022Belarus: Deutsche Welle and other outlets labeled 'extremist'Belarus (RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180)Official labelsAlexander LukashenkoSustained (9 March 2022)
23 April 2021Russia: independent outlet Meduza designated a 'foreign agent'Russia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Official labelsVladimir PutinSustained (23 April 2021)
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)
7 March 2019Russia: new laws penalize online "fake news" and "disrespecting authorities"Russia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Official labelsVladimir PutinSustained (7 March 2019)
September 2013Vietnam: Decree 72 restricts blogs to personal informationViet Nam (RSF rank: not recorded)Official labelsNguyen Tan DungSustained (1 September 2013)
28 September 1959Cuba: Prime Minister Fidel Castro publicly criticizes Havana newspapers that questioned his government, September 1959Cuba (RSF rank: not recorded)Official labelsFidel CastroSustained (11 May 1960)
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