The War On News

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

Search: prior restraint in Asia, national level

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
CountryIndia, RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180Israel, RSF 2026 rank: 116th of 180JapanMyanmar, RSF 2026 rank: 166th of 180Philippines, RSF 2026 rank: 114th of 180Türkiye, RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180
ContinentAsia
TacticPrior restraint 9Detention and violence 2Official labels 1Surveillance and subpoenas 1Licensing and closure of outlets 1Shutdowns and blocking 1
StagePressure 3Silence 6
OutcomeReversed 3Sustained 2Unknown 2Ongoing 2
LevelNational 9
Head of governmentBenjamin NetanyahuDavid Ben-GurionFerdinand MarcosFumimaro KonoeIndira GandhiNarendra ModiRecep Tayyip ErdoğanSaw Maung

9 incidents match this view.

TableCardsCSVJSONMarkdown
DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
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)
22 February 2023Türkiye: the broadcast regulator fines and suspends channels for earthquake coverageTürkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Prior restraintRecep Tayyip ErdoğanSustained (22 February 2023)
14 February 2023Indian tax authorities search BBC offices weeks after Modi documentary banIndia (RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasNarendra ModiUnknown
June 2010Israel: a court bars any mention of the 'Prisoner X' caseIsrael (RSF 2026 rank: 116th of 180)Prior restraintBenjamin NetanyahuUnknown (1 June 2010)
18 September 1988Burma's new military government tightens pre-publication press controls after seizing powerMyanmar (RSF 2026 rank: 166th of 180)Prior restraintSaw MaungOngoing (1 January 1989)
26 June 1975India imposes pre-press controls on every newspaper during the 1975 EmergencyIndia (RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180)Prior restraintIndira GandhiReversed (21 March 1977)
21 September 1972Philippines President Marcos closes every major news outlet under martial lawPhilippines (RSF 2026 rank: 114th of 180)Shutdowns and blockingFerdinand MarcosReversed (25 February 1986)
1948Israel retains a British-era law giving the military the power to review and restrict the pressIsrael (RSF 2026 rank: 116th of 180)Prior restraintDavid Ben-GurionOngoing (1 January 1989)
July 1937Japan: government requires clearance to publish war news under the Newspaper Law, 1937Japan (RSF rank: not recorded)Prior restraintFumimaro KonoeSustained
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