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Freedom House

All articles tagged with #freedom house

world1 day ago•10 min saved

CPI Slump Shrinks the Club of Clean Countries as U.S. Dips to New Low

Global corruption perceptions fell to 42/100 in 2025, shrinking the number of top-scoring countries to just five (Denmark, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, Norway) and leaving the United States at 64 in 29th place, its lowest CPI result on record. The piece ties the decline to rising polarization and weaker institutional checks. Separately, Freedom House’s 2026 rankings crown Finland at 100 and put the United States at 81, with Europe leading and the least-free nations clustered in Africa and Asia (e.g., South Sudan, Sudan, Turkmenistan, North Korea). The article also notes the human costs of corruption—including threats to journalists—and the importance of independent media and strong institutions in combatting graft.

via Visual Capitalist|

#corruption #cpi #freedom-house

technology2 years ago•4 min saved

AI's Role in Dictatorship: Disinformation, Censorship, and Surveillance on the Rise

Political leaders in at least 16 countries, including the United States, have been using AI deepfakes to sow doubt, smear opponents, and influence public debate, according to a report by Freedom House. Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have both utilized deepfaked videos and audio to attack each other. The report highlights how AI can amplify digital repression, making censorship, surveillance, and the spread of disinformation easier and more effective. Governments in 22 countries have legal frameworks mandating social media companies to deploy AI for removing disfavored political, social, and religious speech, which goes beyond standard content moderation policies. State actors are also turning to private "AI for hire" companies to create AI-generated propaganda, including deepfake newscasters. The report emphasizes the need for increased regulation and transparency to protect human rights in the face of AI manipulation.

via Gizmodo|

#ai #censorship #deepfakes

politics3 years ago•4 min saved

Assessing the State of Democracy at Biden's Summit.

President Biden's "Summit for Democracy" invited leaders from over 100 countries to discuss human rights, confronting authoritarianism, and lessening corruption. While two-thirds of the attendees are considered "free" countries, roughly a third of attending countries are considered only "partly free" by Freedom House's index, and three countries solidly viewed as undemocratic societies by Freedom House made the State Department's guest list for this year's summit. The summit aims to galvanize change within all attending countries and push for a global community that is more democratic.

via The Washington Post|

#autocracy #biden #democracy

politics3 years ago•4 min saved

Biden's Democracy Summit Faces Uphill Battle.

President Biden's Summit for Democracy is unlikely to save democracy or his presidency, as democracy continues to decline globally, with twice as many nations veering towards authoritarianism as towards democracy. Despite Biden's promises, even US government officials fear the summit will be an "inconsequential talk shop." The American Bar Association recently warned that the rule of law is in decline globally, but it's "not a central focus of the U.S. Government's approach" on democracy. Biden's endless edicts set a terrible example for other democratic leaders, and his administration's crackdowns on "inaccurate" information and foreign journalists raise concerns about censorship and propaganda.

via New York Post |

#authoritarianism #biden #democracy