The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search: official labels, stage: pressure, national level

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

10 incidents match this view.

Country: Belarus, RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180 Egypt, RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180 Georgia, RSF 2026 rank: 135th of 180 Hungary, RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180 India, RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180 Russia, RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180 United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180 Viet Nam

Continent: Africa Asia Europe North America

Tactic: Official labels (10) Funding and ownership pressure (4) Prior restraint (1)

Stage: Pressure (10)

Outcome: Sustained (6) Reversed (2) Ongoing (1) Unknown (1)

Level: National (10)

Head of government: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Alexander Lukashenko Donald Trump Irakli Kobakhidze Narendra Modi Nguyen Tan Dung Viktor Orban Vladimir Putin

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
August 4, 2026Russia: law on asset freezes and service denials for exiled "foreign agents", August 2026Russia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Official labelsVladimir PutinSustained (August 4, 2026)
January 22, 2025FCC chair reopens 'news distortion' complaints against CBS and NBCUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureDonald TrumpOngoing
May 28, 2024Georgia enacts 'foreign influence' law requiring media to register as foreign-backedGeorgia (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 (September 20, 2024)
December 20, 2023Hungary: National Sovereignty Protection Act and Sovereignty Protection Office, December 2023Hungary (RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180)Official labelsViktor OrbanReversed (June 30, 2026)
March 9, 2022Belarus: Deutsche Welle and other outlets labeled 'extremist'Belarus (RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180)Official labelsAlexander LukashenkoSustained (March 9, 2022)
April 23, 2021Russia: independent outlet Meduza designated a 'foreign agent'Russia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Official labelsVladimir PutinSustained (April 23, 2021)
March 22, 2019Egypt: media law used to fine and block news site al-MashhadEgypt (RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180)Official labelsAbdel Fattah el-SisiUnknown (May 7, 2019)
March 7, 2019Russia: new laws penalize online "fake news" and "disrespecting authorities"Russia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Official labelsVladimir PutinSustained (March 7, 2019)
September 2013Vietnam: Decree 72 restricts blogs to personal informationViet Nam (RSF rank: not recorded)Official labelsNguyen Tan DungSustained (September 1, 2013)
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