The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search, stage: punish, national level, outcome unknown

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

8 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 Mexico Saudi Arabia, RSF 2026 rank: 176th of 180 Türkiye, RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180 United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Continent: Asia Europe North America

Tactic: Surveillance and subpoenas (4) Detention and violence (3) Insult and defamation laws (2) Expulsion and visa denial (2) Secrets and espionage laws (1) Shutdowns and blocking (1)

Stage: Punish (8)

Outcome: Unknown (8)

Level: National (8)

Head of government: Barack Obama Enrique Pena Nieto Joe Biden Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Narendra Modi Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 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)
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)
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
March 30, 2020Hungary criminalizes false coronavirus information and grants Orban decree powersHungary (RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsViktor OrbanUnknown
October 1, 2018Saudi Arabia: spyware on an associate's phone precedes Jamal Khashoggi's killing by one daySaudi Arabia (RSF 2026 rank: 176th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasSalman bin Abdulaziz Al SaudUnknown (October 1, 2018)
June 19, 2017Mexico: journalist Carmen Aristegui receives Pegasus spyware through phishing textsMexico (RSF rank: not recorded)Surveillance and subpoenasEnrique Pena NietoUnknown (June 20, 2017)
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
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