War on Press Freedom

The annual Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index has consistently highlighted the erosion of press freedom, showing a disturbing trend where journalists face rising violence, arbitrary detention, surveillance, censorship, and imprisonment. While many factors contribute to this decline, one of the most concerning is the overt suppression of media in Asia, particularly in China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal–countries that are grappling with instability and authoritarianism.

For decades, the press has been heralded as the fourth pillar of democracy. It serves as an essential check on governmental power, holding the powerful accountable, exposing corruption, and fostering informed public debate. However, media freedom has become a rare commodity across much of Asia.

The RSF Press Freedom Index for 2025 paints a grim picture, especially in countries where the media’s independence has been systematically undermined by state influence, political pressure, and unchecked corporate control. As democracy wanes in these regions, so too does the ability of journalists to report freely and independently.

In China, the world’s most populous country, press freedom has been under a sustained attack for years, and the situation in 2025 is dire. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), under President Xi Jinping, has made clear its determination to maintain a firm grip on information. The Chinese government weaponises technology, leverages vast surveillance networks, enforces online censorship, and manipulates social media platforms to stifle dissent and control the narrative.

The situation in India, the ‘world’s largest democracy,’ is also deteriorating rapidly. Once regarded as a beacon of press freedom in Asia, India has seen a dramatic decline in the state of its media over the past decade. According to the RSF Press Freedom Index 2025, India now ranks among the most dangerous countries for journalists.

The rise of authoritarian populism, led by Prime Minister NarendraModi and the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), has coincided with a crackdown on independent media outlets. Journalists critical of the government or its policies are increasingly subject to harassment, physical violence, and judicial persecution. The government has used terms like ‘sedition’ and anti-terrorism laws to intimidate reporters, while pro-government media channels often flood the public sphere with propaganda and biased reporting.

In Pakistan, the decline of press freedom has followed a similar trajectory, exacerbated by the volatile political environment and the military’s strong influence over the state. Journalists in Pakistan face violent attacks, kidnapping, intimidation and death, often at the hands of state security forces or political actors.

Bangladesh, similarly, has seen its press freedom erode steadily. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has enacted harsh laws to stifle dissent, including the Digital Security Act, which allows authorities to imprison journalists and activists for spreading “false” or “sensitive” information online. Under the guise of national security, these laws are used to suppress independent reporting and punish those who dare to criticise the government.

Established media outlets, such as CNN and the New York Times, have been repeatedly labelled as purveyors of “fake news,” and journalists have faced growing hostility, not only from political figures but also from the public. While the US has a long tradition of press freedom, the steady erosion of trust in the media, fuelled by political polarisation, has effectively undermined the ability of journalists to report without fear of backlash.

Press freedom in 2025 is grim. Report from war zone is bone-chilling, particularly from Ukraine and Gaza. Dozens of journalists have been killed while reporting on the front. There is an urgent need for transparent legal frameworks and international solidarity to defend press freedom.

[Contributed by MC]

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Frontier
Vol 57, No. 49, June 1 - 7, 2025