About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (February 7, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveogt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service informing the legislative debate since 1914 Updated February 7, 2024 Global Trends in Democracy and Authoritarianism: Challenges to Press Freedom Experts and policymakers have expressed concern over global challenges to press freedom, including in connection with broader concerns over the state of democracy around the world. Some research, including by the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations, indicates that press freedom has been declining globally. Some Members of the 118th Congress have proposed legislation seeking to bolster U.S. foreign policy responses to this trend (e.g., S. 2526, H.R. 4898, and H.R. 5855). Press Freedom and Democracy Erosions in press freedom may be both a contributor to, and a symptom of, current global trends of democratic backsliding and rising authoritarianism. Many experts describe the presence of a free, independent, and pluralistic media sector as an essential condition for genuine and well- functioning democratic governance. They see a free press as critical to holding governments accountable to the public and helping citizens make informed decisions about political leaders and policies. Analysis of trends in backsliding democracies has reinforced this view, with efforts to undermine press freedoms identified as a common early indicator of broader democratic breakdown. Further, existing non-democratic governments appear to have drawn on an evolving playbook for repressing independent sources of information, potentially contributing to the apparent increased durability of modern authoritarian governance. International Frameworks Both the 1948 U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1976 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights enumerate the right of everyone to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any form of media, regardless of frontiers. The 1991 Declaration of Windhoek on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press, viewed by many as a landmark statement of free press principles, states in part that an independent, pluralistic and free press is essential to the development and maintenance of democracy in a nation. The U.N. General Assembly in 1 993 proclaimed the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, May 3, as World Press Freedom Day. Selected Global Challenges Government Censorship and Control. In countries with forms of authoritarian governance, media organizations are often unable to operate independent of substantial government control or influence. Even in contexts with greater levels of media freedom, governments may use laws or policies that purport to combat issues of public concern (e.g., terrorism, defamation, or mis/disinformation) but that have the effect of unduly restricting, or criminalizing in some cases, the free expression of individuals and the work of media outlets. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, some governments used a stated need to combat health-related misinformation to justify imposing restrictions on the media. The ability of journalists to report information, and of citizens to meaningfully access this information, is also affected by governmental efforts in some countries to erode freedom of expression on the internet. These efforts can include, for instance, criminal or other penalties for online speech, blocks of websites or social media platforms, internet shutdowns, and online disinformation campaigns. Unfair or Distorted Media Environments. Independent media outlets are under financial strain in many countries, including in ostensibly free environments, and may be vulnerable to efforts to impede, influence, or co-opt their work. Governments, government-aligned actors, or other powerful figures may in some cases use legal, regulatory, or economic tools to disadvantage or co-opt critical media outlets and/or favor pro-government voices. Relevant tactics can include, for example, selective or arbitrary application of tax laws or licensing practices, ownership takeovers, unfair distribution of government subsidies or advertising budgets, and expensive and time-consuming lawsuits (often referred to as strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs). Relatedly, experts have raised concerns about the influence of authoritarian governments such as China and Russia on media environments around the world. Attacks Against and Imprisonment of Individual Journalists. Journalists around the world can face threats, harassment, detention, physical attacks, or killings for doing their work. Perpetrators can include state and non-state actors, and typically enjoy impunity. According to one nongovernmental tally, as of December 1, 2023, 320 journalists globally were detained or imprisoned in relation to their work, with the top five countries of detention being China (44 journalists), Burma (43), Belarus (28), Russia (22), and Vietnam (19). In some cases, governments may also seek to repress journalists operating in other countries. Biden Adrninistration lnitiatives The Biden Administration has emphasized press freedom issues as part of a broader policy, consistent with many prior Administrations, to promote and defend democracy around the world. The Administration launched a number of relevant global foreign assistance initiatives as part of commitments in support of multilateral Summit for Democracy meetings held in 2021 and 2023. These include

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most