The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, 1900 to today

Search, outcome upheld by a court

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
CountryHong Kong, RSF 2026 rank: 140th of 180Hungary, RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180Russia, RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180ThailandUnited Kingdom, RSF 2026 rank: 18th of 180United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180Zimbabwe, RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180
ContinentAfricaAsiaEuropeNorth America
TacticSecrets and espionage laws 4Surveillance and subpoenas 3Insult and defamation laws 2Detention and violence 2Shutdowns and blocking 2Licensing and closure of outlets 1Credential control 1
StagePunish 6Silence 3Eliminate 2
OutcomeUpheld by a court 11
LevelNational 11
Head of governmentBarack ObamaDavid CameronGeorge W. BushJohn LeeRichard NixonRobert MugabeViktor OrbanVladimir PutinWoodrow WilsonYingluck Shinawatra

11 incidents match this view.

TableCardsCSVJSONMarkdown
DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
29 August 2024Hong Kong court convicts Stand News editors of seditionHong Kong (RSF 2026 rank: 140th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsJohn LeeUpheld by a court (26 September 2024)
14 February 2021Hungary: Klubradio loses its terrestrial broadcast license over its tender applicationHungary (RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsViktor OrbanUpheld by a court (1 September 2021)
18 August 2013United Kingdom detains journalist's partner under terrorism law and oversees destruction of Guardian hard drives holding Snowden filesUnited Kingdom (RSF 2026 rank: 18th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasDavid CameronUpheld by a court (19 January 2016)
25 January 2013United States prosecutes former CIA officer John Kiriakou under the Espionage Act for identifying a covert colleague to a journalistUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsBarack ObamaUpheld by a court (3 February 2015)
24 January 2013Thailand: magazine editor Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is sentenced to 11 years under the lese-majeste lawThailand (RSF rank: not recorded)Insult and defamation lawsYingluck ShinawatraUpheld by a court (30 April 2018)
7 October 2006Investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya is shot dead in Moscow; a former police officer is later convicted of organizing the killingRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Detention and violenceVladimir PutinUpheld by a court (9 June 2014)
6 July 2005New York Times reporter Judith Miller jailed for refusing to name a confidential source in the Valerie Plame affairUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasGeorge W. BushUpheld by a court (29 September 2005)
12 May 2005Zimbabwe: the High Court refuses to accredit Daily News journalists under the media registration lawZimbabwe (RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180)Credential controlRobert MugabeUpheld by a court (12 May 2005)
1969United States Supreme Court rules reporters have no privilege to refuse grand jury subpoenasUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasRichard NixonUpheld by a court (29 June 1972)
July 1917United States postmaster bars the magazine The Masses from the mail under the Espionage ActUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (1 November 1917)
1917United States Postmaster General Burleson strips the Milwaukee Leader of its mailing rateUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Shutdowns and blockingWoodrow WilsonUpheld by a court (7 March 1921)
Download this view

CSV, JSON or Markdown. CC BY 4.0; credit "The War On News, thewaronnews.com".

CSVJSONMarkdown