Table of Contents
Freedom of expression has dropped globally by 10% since 2012 —an erosion not seen since the world wars and the Cold War era. At the same time, self-censorship has risen by 63%, as journalists increasingly avoid reporting on corruption, human rights, and environmental harm. A practice which was once rare is now becoming the norm.
Among the trends explaining this decline: the backsliding on human rights, the number of attacks against journalists, and the crisis affecting the media’s business model.
A shrinking space for voices that challenge power
Across the world, those who speak out are facing growing hostility. Human rights protections are being rolled back, and violence and harassment – particularly online – are becoming increasingly normalised. A UNESCO survey shows that 67% of respondents have encountered online hate speech, underlining the scale of the issue.
Women and marginalised groups are disproportionately affected. For many, visibility comes at a high personal cost. French journalist and human rights activist Rokhaya Diallo, who authored a chapter of the report, describes how defending human rights has exposed her to sustained attacks questioning her legitimacy and belonging. While digital platforms have enabled overlooked issues – such as colonial history, slavery, and police violence – to gain visibility, they have also intensified harassment, intimidation, and threats, both online and offline. Too often, women who challenge dominant narratives are pushed into silence, exclusion, or worse.
This climate of hostility feeds a broader trend: self-censorship. Faced with legal pressure, online abuse, surveillance, and physical danger, many journalists now avoid sensitive topics, mainly corruption, human rights, or environmental harm, altogether, weakening public debate and democratic accountability.
Reporting the truth at growing risk
The risks are particularly acute for those reporting on environmental issues. Journalists, scientists, and activists covering climate change and environmental destruction face escalating intimidation. Since 2009, hundreds have been attacked, and 46 have been murdered, with only six convictions.
These attacks do not only silence individuals – they deprive societies of essential information about the climate crisis at a moment when informed public debate is critical. At the same time, independent journalism is under severe economic strain. Digital platforms capture the lion’s share of advertising revenue, with three companies now controlling around half of global ad spending. This economic imbalance threatens media pluralism and further erodes the independence of newsrooms worldwide.
Reasons for hope and action
Between 2020 and 2025, 1.5 billion people gained access to social media and messaging platforms, expanding civic participation and new avenues for expression. Collaborative investigative journalism is increasing, as cross-border teams uncover wrongdoing and strengthen accountability. Efforts to improve transparency in the digital sphere are also advancing. In 2024, UNESCO helped launch the Global Forum of Networks of Regulators, bringing together more than 120 regulators from around the world. Today, nearly half of all countries now legally recognise community media, helping to build more inclusive and trusted communication ecosystems.
“The choice before us is stark: continue along a path of erosion and crises, or take decisive steps to rebuild trust, protect information as a public good, and restore dialogue as the foundation of peace.” Global Forum for Media Development, one of the contributing organisations to the Report. Freedom of expression is the foundation of every other right. It strengthens democracy, advances sustainable development, and fuels peace. Reversing today’s dangerous trends will require collective action: defending journalists, supporting independent media, demanding accountability from digital platforms, and standing up for the right to be informed – and to speak out.
The World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Report is published by UNESCO every four years. The 2022-2025 edition “Journalism: Shaping a World at Peace” is based on the contributions, insights, and data provided by over 100 experts in freedom of expression and media development, and derived from hundreds of academic and institutional sources. It is the only global report which analyses trends in freedom of expression and journalism over a multi-year period. Most of the data was gathered between January 2022-December 2025.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/silenced-voices-why-freedom-expression-receding-worldwide
