Between 2012 and 2019, the contraction in the freedom of expression index was moderate
Global freedom of expression fell by 10% between 2012 and 2024, a setback comparable to that which occurred with the First World War, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) warned today.
This is one of the main conclusions of the study “Trends in journalism: configuration in a world of peace 2022/2025”, published today and which highlights the connection between worrying trends in the media ecosystem, with the increase in self-censorship, weakening of institutions, fall in public trust and deepening polarization.
The decline in freedom of expression coincided “with setbacks in terms of equality, along with growing hostility towards journalists, scientists and environmental researchers”, warns the organization, while the dominance of big technologies has created “fertile ground for the spread of hate speech and disinformation on the Internet”.
“Together, these political, social and commercial pressures are undermining the freedom, plurality and diversity of the media”, highlights UNESCO, in addition to highlighting the harmful effects of generative artificial intelligence, which in the last two years has already managed to deepen the value crisis of traditional media.
Between 2012 and 2019, the contraction in the freedom of expression index was moderate, but accelerated from 2020 and, above all, from 2022, at a rate of 1.30% per year, well above the average rate for the period 2012-2024 (0.86%).
Given that this setback is closely linked to the situation in journalism, UNESCO highlights that for reporters it is a period of harassment and increased physical threats, especially in conflict zones.
Between 2022 and 2025, 185 journalists died, which represents a 67% increase compared to the previous four years.
In 2025 alone, 91 journalists died, 41% in deliberate attacks, with impunity for these crimes being very high, as UNESCO estimates that, by 2024, 85% of the perpetrators of these deaths had not been convicted.
Self-censorship among reporters grows by almost 5% per year and, in total, between 2012 and 2024, it increased by 63%, particularly on controversial topics, such as corruption, for fear of reprisals.
Digital surveillance and restrictive laws have increased by 48%, which particularly hampers independent journalism, and online harassment, abusive and unfounded legal actions and intimidation practices have also increased.
Even so, the organization highlights the increase in Internet access globally, at the same time that the democracy index falls globally, as for the first time in the last two decades, autocratic regimes surpass democracies.
Thus, 72% of the planet’s population lives under undemocratic rules, the highest level since 1978.
This index is drawn from the world’s largest data set on democracy, compiled by an international network of thousands of academics and experts coordinated by the V-Dem Institute, at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), taking into account factors such as censorship of the media, harassment of journalists or freedom of academic and cultural expression.
