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Govt manipulation on social media increasing: Report
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IANS | 14 Nov, 2017
Governments around the world have drastically increased their attempts
to manipulate information being shared on social media networks,
contributing to a seventh consecutive year of decline in internet
freedom, a global report said.
In its annual report released late
Monday, the Washington-based Freedom House said that manipulation and
disinformation tactics on the internet played an important role in the
elections of at least 18 countries, including the US, thereby "damaging
citizens' ability to choose their leaders based on factual news and
authentic debate", reports Efe news.
The report "Freedom of the
Net 2017" assesses the situation in 65 countries, or 87 per cent of
global internet users, from June 2016 to May 2017.
"The content
manipulation contributed to a seventh consecutive year of overall
decline in internet freedom, along with a rise in disruptions to mobile
internet service and increases in physical and technical attacks on
human rights defenders and independent media," it said.
The
governments of a total of 30 countries "deployed some form of
manipulation to distort online information, up from 23 the previous
year.
"Paid commentators, trolls, bots, false news sites, and
propaganda outlets were among the techniques used by leaders to inflate
their popular support and essentially endorse themselves."
Most
governments focused on public opinion within their own borders "but
others sought to expand their interests abroad - exemplified by a
Russian disinformation campaign to influence the American election".
For the third consecutive year, China was the worst abuser of internet freedom in the world, followed by Syria and Ethiopia.
Less
than a quarter of the world's internet users reside in countries where
networks are designated as "free", which, according to Freedom House,
means that "there are no major obstacles to access, onerous restrictions
on content, or serious violations of user rights in the form of
unchecked surveillance or unjust repercussions for legitimate speech".
Since
June 2016, 32 of the 65 countries evaluated in the report saw their
situation deteriorate; the most notable setbacks were registered in
Ukraine, Egypt and Turkey.
Internet in Venezuela was declared not
free in the report due to decreased access, increased censorship along
with blockades and technological attacks against media and non profits.
In
Mexico, illegal surveillance practices reported in investigations
revealed that government spyware was allegedly attacking people involved
in investigating corruption and human rights abuses.
Freedom House tracks the status of freedom, democracy and human rights in the world.
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| Customs Exchange Rates |
| Currency |
Import |
Export |
US Dollar
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66.20
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64.50 |
UK Pound
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87.50
|
84.65 |
Euro
|
78.25
|
75.65 |
| Japanese
Yen |
58.85 |
56.85 |
| As on 13 Aug, 2022 |
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| Daily Poll |
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