The War On News

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

Search, stage: punish, 1900 to 1949

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
CountryPhilippines, RSF 2026 rank: 114th of 180United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180
ContinentAsiaNorth America
TacticDetention and violence 3Secrets and espionage laws 2Insult and defamation laws 2Lawsuits against the press 2Expulsion and visa denial 1Shutdowns and blocking 1
StagePunish 5
OutcomeUpheld by a court 4Reversed 1
LevelNational 4State or province 1
Head of governmentAlfred E. SmithTheodore RooseveltWilliam Howard TaftWoodrow Wilson

5 incidents match this view.

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DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
8 June 1925United States: Supreme Court upholds Benjamin Gitlow's conviction under New York's Criminal Anarchy Law, 1925United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsAlfred E. SmithUpheld by a court (8 June 1925)
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)
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)
4 March 1909United States: President Theodore Roosevelt seeks criminal libel indictments against the New York World and the Indianapolis News over Panama Canal reportingUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsTheodore RooseveltReversed (3 January 1911)
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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