Free, but with limits
It's not surprising that Norway tops the list once again. The country has an excellent track record not only for quality of life but also for freedom of the press, especially freedom of expression. In 2020, the Norwegian government committed to provide the parliament with an annual report on the status of freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The parliament is looking to enhancement of the media's situation through more suitable policies. However, Norway recently introduced a law aimed at locating the media's responsibilities. But this law still looks blurred to a lack of information. The local media has also been facing restrictions regarding reports on the pandemic. Besides, the 1.12 drop in Norway's points compared to last year is self-explanatory.
Finland is another outstanding Nordic country in many fields, including freedom of the press. The government has proposed a new law to protect the media and journalists. The survival of the Finnish media is threatened by social networks that have reduced advertising and other fundings. In recent years, many fictitious news websites have given rise to a new generation of internet users spreading hatred and fake news. However, this new law is still misinterpreted, and this remains a serious issue for both freelance collaborators and journalists in Finland.
Third is Sweden, which was also the first country in the world to pass a law for the freedom of the press in 1776. Still, the media, especially journalists, are pressurised in different forms, including hatred and threats. The Swedish media was also criticised by China in 2020 on human rights issues and by Hungary for press reports on pandemic-related measures. Let's not forget the impact of the crisis on the local media. For example, Swedish authorities prevented the media from having access to public documents on COVID-19. The loss of revenue from advertising is another matter of concern.
Repression against the media
Eritrea, South Korea and Turkmenistan are at the bottom end of the list. But there's also China which currently ranks 177th out of 180 countries. Fake news has been one of the main issues for China over the past year, especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, there is now stricter control on information in general. Besides, nearly twenty foreign journalists have been deported from China, not to mention other forms of pressure. There's also a limit on the number of visas granted to foreign reporters. In 2020, seven journalists were arrested for media coverage of the pandemic. But China's repression towards the press isn't a new thing. More than 100 defenders of the freedom of the press have been detained for several years. The communist regime has the power to control information and the population as a whole through a surveillance system. There's now an even bigger threat for both the public and private media.
We also looked at Vietnam, which currently ranks 175th out of 180 countries. On December 17, 2020, Lê Thi Thu Hang, the spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, during a press conference, that "Vietnam supports and guarantees freedom of the press, both in its Constitution of 2013 and in practice ”. She underlined the fact that Vietnam is home to 868 news agencies and 125 television channels. Besides, at least 62 million Vietnamese have social media accounts. Still, there are significant limits to the freedom of the press in this country. Andrew, an Australian expat in Vietnam, says: “I am not sure that we are free to express ourselves. Some things are not tolerated in communist countries ”. Besides, Vietnam has clear laws regarding freedom of expression. "Every citizen is equal before the law, and anyone who breaks the law will be treated in accordance with judicial procedures as indicated in existing laws," Lê Thi Thu Hang said.
But in Vietnam, the Communist Party has complete control over the media. And this is the reason why the threat for independent journalists and bloggers is real. Any article considered as propaganda against the State or the rulers of the country is liable to imprisonment in accordance with the Vietnamese Penal Code. In 2020, several independent journalists were arrested and sentenced to more than ten years in jail. According to Reporters Without Borders, more than thirty journalists and bloggers are still detained. But that's not all. In 2019, a law against cybercrime was introduced, requiring all online platforms to save all the information published by internet users in Vietnam. So the government can access this information and take actions as it deems necessary. For Marc, a Canadian expat in Vietnam, expats should keep in mind that they are "guests in this country". "I think we have to act responsibly, even more so than the Vietnamese. We must restrain ourselves even more than we would have in our home country when it comes to discussing politically sensitive issues. Having said that, Buddhism also has a saying that states that if you are not criticised, you may not be doing much that makes a difference."
Saudi Arabia, for its part, ranks 170th this year. In this absolute monarchy, freedom of the press is practically non-existent. In recent years, the repression has intensified through the young prince Mohamed Ben Salman. Many journalists and bloggers are still arbitrarily detained and are often tortured, according to RWB. Saudi Arabia also has laws relating to cybercrime and terrorism. According to these laws, blasphemy and publications that are considered a threat to national unity or to the king and the State's image and reputation are liable to suspension and even imprisonment. Social media is also censored – which considerably limits freedom of expression.
