Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
Google employees help local business owners create a mobile version of their websites at a temporary Google store in Mobile, Alabama, United States.

In its report on the state of Internet, Freedom House, an organisation that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights, India has fallen six positions among 47 countries that were assessed on the basis of free and unrestricted access to the web.

The report gives a score from 0 (the most free) to 100 (the least free), which serves as the basis for an Internet freedom status designation of Free (0-30 points), Partly Free (31-60 points), or Not Free (61-100).

Ratings are determined through an examination of three broad categories: obstacles to access, limits on content and violation of user rights.

Let's take a look at Internet freedom in India and around the world.

Source: The Freedom House

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
View of Estonia's capital Tallinn.

Estonia

Internet penetration: 77 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 1

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
Tourits gather in Times Square in New York City.

The United States

Internet penetration: 78 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 2

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A view of the Frankfurt skyline in Germany.

Germany

Internet penetration: 83 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 3

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A catamaran leaves the central business district, with the Sydney Opera House in the background, in Australia.

Australia

Internet penetration: 79 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 4

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
Cruise ships are floating on the Danube river in central Budapest in Hungary.

Hungary

Internet penetration: 59 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Partly free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 5

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
An aerial view of St Peter's Square in Rome, Italy.

Italy

Internet penetration: 57 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Partly free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 6

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A night view of Manila's Makati financial district in the Philippines.

The Philippines

Internet penetration: 29 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Partly free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 7

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
London Eye, a giant ferris wheel, dominates the South Bank of the River Thames as it towers above Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom

Internet penetration: 82 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 8

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
Overview of Buenos Aires' 9 de Julio Avenue with the Obelisk in the background in Argentina.

Argentina

Internet penetration: 48 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: Yes

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 9

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
Cityscape of Johannesburg in South Africa.

South Africa

Internet penetration: 21 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 10

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A view of Refice in northeast Brazil.

Brazil

Internet penetration: 45 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 11

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A view shows the Independence Square in central Kiev, Ukraine.

Ukraine

Internet penetration: 31 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 12

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A view of Kenya's capital city Nairobi.

Kenya

Internet penetration: 28 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 13

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A view of the Georgian Presidential Palace in Tbilisi.

Georgia

Internet penetration: 37 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 14

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A view of the Nigeria stock exchange building in the central business district in Lagos.

Nigeria

Internet penetration: 28 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Partly free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 15

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
Part of Gangnam area is seen down the Han River in Seoul, South Korea.

South Korea

Internet penetration: 84 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Partly free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 16

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A view of the lobby of Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo, Uganda.

Uganda

Internet penetration: 13 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Partly free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 17

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
A horse carries a folded-up yurt, a traditional felt tent, as they head to a handicraft fair in Osh, 700km south of the capital Bishkek, in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan

Internet penetration: 20 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Partly free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 18

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
Ice skaters on a skating rink in Mexico City's Zocalo Square.

Mexico

Internet penetration: 36 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: No

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: No

Press freedom status: Partly free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 19

Click NEXT to read more...

India falls in global Internet freedom rank

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 07:36 IST
Traffic moves in front of the India Gate in New Delhi.

India

Internet penetration: 10 per cent

Web 2.0 applications blocked: Yes

Notable political censorship: No

Bloggers/users arrested: Yes

Press freedom status: Partly Free

Global rank in Internet freedom: 20