One report noted a decline in freedom of expression on the Web … – Le Monde

The American NGO Freedom House, which defends individual liberties in the world, published Wednesday, October 28, a long report on freedom of expression on the Internet. Analyzing the situation country by country, the document notes that the freedom of expression – designed in his “American” form and therefore very wide. – Declined worldwide for the fifth consecutive year

listing the legal barriers, technical and political freedom of expression online, the NGO focuses particularly on cases of widespread censorship by blocking websites, and establishes a general classification of the most repressive countries and the most liberal in the matter.

Not surprisingly, China ranks last in the ranking, among 19 countries where the Internet is considered “not free” behind Syria and Iran. The “good students” are Iceland, Estonia, Canada or Germany – the consistent classification with the broader established in France by the advocacy organization for freedom of expression Reporters Without Borders, which lists all the obstacles to freedom of expression whether or not online

New global trend identified by the NGO in 2015. “Governments are increasingly pressure on individuals and the private sector “, through groups like Alphabet (ex-Google), Facebook or Twitter, so that they withdraw content rather than censor them directly.

The paradox of “Charlie Hebdo after”

France is particularly criticized in this report. “Notable declines were recorded in Libya, France and, for the second consecutive year in Ukraine amid territorial dispute and propaganda war with Russia” , the NGO notes in a statement. “The position of France has declined mainly because of problematic policies adopted after the terrorist attacks of Charlie Hebdo” in January.

“ These attacks have triggered a vast movement of solidarity under the slogan “I’m Charlie” , and 3.7 million people demonstrated in defense of freedom of expression. In response to these incidents, police have had a tough approach, arresting dozens of people for advocating terrorism, an offense dating back to the XIX ^th century updated two months before the attacks to include the words on the Internet. “

France also loses points in the rankings due to the passing of the controversial law on intelligence, adopted in June and which provides automated tools for web traffic analysis. Despite the decline, France is in ninth place out of 18 countries classified “free”

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