Estonia scores 91 as Iran’s internet freedom falls to 9

Internet freedom declined worldwide for the 16th consecutive year in Freedom House’s 2026 report. Conditions worsened in 16 of the 38 countries surveyed and improved in eight. Estonia scored 91 out of 100, followed by Costa Rica with 86 and Taiwan with 78.

Iran recorded the largest decline in the assessment, with its score falling from 13 to nine. The report places Iran alongside China and Myanmar at the bottom of the rankings.

Freedom House said Iran’s 88-day nationwide internet shutdown, which began during the January 2026 protests and continued through the US-Israeli war that began in February, was the longest nationwide shutdown in its 16 years of reporting. Restrictions were partially eased in late May, but most Iranians remained limited to a restricted selection of websites.

The report also examined a class-based internet system under which most citizens face restrictions while privileged groups retain access to global services. It cited higher prices for government-backed VPN services and interference with Starlink satellite signals.

Freedom House said governments are increasingly using technology, including artificial intelligence, to restrict online expression. It called for stronger anti-censorship tools, emergency satellite internet access, and improved digital security for journalists and human rights defenders.

The report said thousands of people were killed and about 50,000 arrested during the January protests. Iran Human Rights has separately documented more than 4,200 deaths, including at least 420 women and 281 people under 18.