Press freedom has reached its lowest point in the last quarter of a century, according to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders, as authoritarian governments intensify efforts to suppress independent journalism and restrict citizens' access to critical information.
On World Press Freedom Day, the BBC World Service revealed the extraordinary measures both the organization and ordinary citizens are taking to circumvent state-imposed media blackouts and reach audiences in countries where democratic values face unprecedented threats. From clandestine technology smuggling networks in Iran to underground newsletter distribution in Russia and Belarus, the landscape of global media freedom has become increasingly precarious, with journalists and their families facing imprisonment, harassment, and legal persecution.
Fiona Crack, Global Director of BBC News, stated: "We know that democratic values are under threat globally and this pressure goes hand-in-hand with the reduction in press freedom. Draconian actions taken by authorities around the world stop journalists doing their job and withhold information from people, increasing international instability and uncertainty. The BBC World Service is determined to provide for audiences who need us most and to find new ways of reaching them."
The scale of these crackdowns reflects a systemic assault on the right to information and freedom of expression in multiple countries simultaneously, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions and the ability of citizens to access reliable news.
Iran's Internet Shutdown and the Risk of Resistance
In Iran, amid nationwide internet shutdowns, a clandestine network has emerged dedicated to smuggling Starlink satellite technology into the country to restore internet access. The BBC World Service spoke with "Sahand," not his real name, who has sent over a dozen contraband items to enable internet access since January. His work carries severe personal risk: one year ago, the Iranian government passed legislation making using, buying or selling Starlink devices punishable by up to two years in prison.
Sahand explained his motivation despite these dangers: "If even one extra person is able to access the internet, I think it's successful and it's worth it." He acknowledged the potential consequences: "If I was identified by the Iranian regime, they might make those I'm in touch with in Iran pay the price." This statement underscores how authoritarian regimes weaponize punishment against not just individuals but their families and contacts, creating networks of fear that extend far beyond direct participants.
Many Iranians bypass state restrictions using virtual private networks to access independent information. BBC News Persian has the largest audience of any international media inside Iran. At the start of the 2026 protests, BBC News Persian was reaching 27.5 million people each week on Instagram—almost half the adult internet population of Iran. Following the internet shutdown, these audiences fell sharply, prompting the service to launch a temporary emergency lifeline radio programme and establish a weekly newsletter to maintain contact with populations cut off from information.
Staff working for BBC News Persian face direct threats for their reporting. Last year saw an alarming increase in harassment, with family members in Iran being taken in for repeated interrogation and their passports confiscated—a tactic that extends state repression into the personal sphere and creates pressure on journalists through their relatives.
Russia's Fifth Year of Media Restrictions
Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, access to BBC News Russian in Russia has been severely restricted. The service's website and most social media platforms are blocked, initially causing an audience drop of 95% across Russia. However, numbers have since recovered significantly as the service works dynamically to reach audiences through alternative platforms.
Audiences in Russia now use virtual private networks to access BBC content on the BBC News Russian website and social platforms including Telegram, YouTube and Instagram. BBC News Russian podcasts were banned on all platforms in Russia four years ago and were moved to YouTube. Since Russian authorities' intentional slowdown of YouTube two years ago, podcast output has also been made available on a dedicated Substack page. BBC News Russian journalists produce a weekday newsletter with mirror links to enable access to BBC content without requiring a VPN.
Several members of BBC News Russian staff have been labelled "Foreign Agents" by Russia, a designation that places them at risk of criminal prosecution and reflects the Kremlin's strategy of criminalizing independent journalism.
Belarus: Six Years of Systematic Media Suppression
In Belarus, an unprecedented post-election media crackdown began six years ago. According to the independent Belarusian Association of Journalists, 22 media workers are currently in prison. In the past six years, almost all independent publications and their social media pages have been blocked, banned and even declared extremist—effectively making it a crime for audiences inside Belarus to engage with them.
BBC News Russian journalists are no longer able to operate in Belarus. The extremism designation has been imposed on BBC News Russian content, and all BBC sites have been blocked. As of two months ago, it is illegal for people in Belarus to share BBC News Russian content. BBC News Russian is pivoting to social media to ensure audiences in Belarus continue to have access to independent news from the BBC.
The criminalization of sharing independent news represents an extreme form of information control, transforming ordinary citizens who share news articles into potential criminal defendants.
The Broader Pattern of Democratic Decline
These developments across Iran, Russia, and Belarus illustrate a coordinated global pattern: authoritarian and increasingly authoritarian-leaning governments are systematically dismantling the infrastructure of press freedom and criminalizing access to independent information. The measures employed—from legislation targeting specific technologies to designating news organizations as extremist—reveal deliberate state strategies to monopolize information and suppress dissent.
The BBC World Service's response demonstrates how public media institutions can adapt to provide critical services when state restrictions intensify. Yet the very necessity of these adaptations—underground networks, encrypted newsletters, alternative platforms—underscores the severity of the threat to democratic values and citizens' fundamental right to information.
Why This Matters:
When governments systematically block access to independent news and criminalize journalism, they create information vacuums that undermine democratic decision-making and enable abuse of state power without public knowledge or accountability. The imprisonment of journalists and media workers, the harassment of their families, and the legal persecution of citizens who share news represent direct attacks on fundamental human rights and democratic institutions. The fact that ordinary citizens are risking imprisonment to smuggle technology and access information demonstrates the desperation created by state censorship. For populations in Iran, Russia, and Belarus, the ability to access reliable, independent news is not a luxury but a necessity for understanding their own circumstances and holding power accountable. When press freedom declines to a 25-year low globally, the consequences extend beyond journalism—they affect the capacity of democratic societies to function and citizens' ability to make informed choices about their futures.