The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search, national level, outcome unknown

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

16 incidents match this view.

Country: Hungary, RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180 India, RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180 Iran, RSF 2026 rank: 177th of 180 Malaysia, RSF 2026 rank: 95th of 180 Saudi Arabia, RSF 2026 rank: 176th of 180 Tanzania, RSF 2026 rank: 117th of 180 Türkiye, RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180 United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180 Zimbabwe, RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180

Continent: Africa Asia Europe North America

Tactic: Surveillance and subpoenas (5) Detention and violence (4) Funding and ownership pressure (3) Insult and defamation laws (2) Access bans (2) Shutdowns and blocking (2) Expulsion and visa denial (2) Prior restraint (2) Licensing and closure of outlets (2) Secrets and espionage laws (1)

Stage: Restrict (2) Pressure (6) Punish (6) Silence (1) Eliminate (1)

Outcome: Unknown (16)

Level: National (16)

Head of government: Barack Obama Donald Trump Joe Biden John Magufuli Mahathir Mohamad Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Narendra Modi Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Richard Nixon Robert Mugabe Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Samia Suluhu Hassan Viktor Orban

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
February 10, 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 (February 10, 2026)
October 29, 2025Tanzania shuts down internet access on election day amid unrestTanzania (RSF 2026 rank: 117th of 180)Shutdowns and blockingSamia Suluhu HassanUnknown
May 1, 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
March 19, 2025Türkiye: detention, injury and deportation of journalists covering protests, March 2025Türkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Detention and violenceRecep Tayyip ErdoğanUnknown (April 2, 2025)
February 6, 2025Border czar Tom Homan says ICE media ride-alongs may end over leaksUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpUnknown
February 14, 2023Indian tax authorities search BBC offices weeks after Modi documentary banIndia (RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasNarendra ModiUnknown
November 6, 2021FBI raids Project Veritas founder's home over Ashley Biden diary investigationUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasJoe BidenUnknown
September 12, 2020Political appointees alter CDC coronavirus guidance before public releaseUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Prior restraintDonald TrumpUnknown
March 30, 2020Hungary criminalizes false coronavirus information and grants Orban decree powersHungary (RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsViktor OrbanUnknown
October 2, 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
March 16, 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 (April 12, 2018)
October 10, 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 21, 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
March 15, 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
September 20, 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
September 9, 1971United States: Nixon White House "enemies list" naming journalists, September 1971United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasRichard NixonUnknown
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