Russia's federal media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has encountered significant technical difficulties in its attempts to block the messaging app Telegram. Efforts to throttle the platform have resulted in collateral damage to unrelated internet services, highlighting the complexities of state-led internet censorship in the Russian Federation.
Reports from the Russian Federation indicate that military authorities have instructed personnel to remove the Telegram messaging app from their mobile devices. The directive is part of broader efforts to enhance operational security and mitigate risks associated with digital communication platforms within the armed forces.
The Spanish government has officially launched HODIO, a new digital monitoring tool designed to track and analyze hate speech and polarization across the internet. Developed to strengthen democratic discourse, the platform aims to provide authorities with data-driven insights into the spread of extremist content and digital disinformation within Spain.
India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has blocked five over-the-top (OTT) platforms—MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel, and Jugnu—for allegedly streaming obscene and sexually explicit content. The action was taken under the IT Act, 2000, and IT Rules, 2021, following multiple grievances and previous warnings regarding content violations.
Russia's State Duma has passed a bill empowering the Federal Security Service (FSB) to shut down internet and mobile services, and block calls and text messages. The legislation, approved on February 17, 2026, also shields telecom operators from liability for such disruptions, marking a significant expansion of state control over communications.
The United Kingdom will assume the co-chairmanship of the Media Freedom Coalition, a global alliance of 51 countries dedicated to press freedom, for a two-year term starting March 1, 2026. This marks the UK's return to a leadership role in the coalition it co-founded in 2019.
France's media regulator, Arcom, has fined conservative television network CNews €100,000. The penalty stems from two broadcasts in August 2025 on the program 'L'heure des pros' that were found to encourage discrimination against Muslims and Algerians, violating French broadcasting standards.
Russia's communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has restricted access to the 'I Want to Return' website, which publishes details of wounded and killed Russian servicemen. The move, effective around February 13, 2026, is seen as an effort to conceal the true scale of military casualties in Ukraine, with the database listing over 156,000 killed and 96,000 wounded personnel. Access now requires VPNs.
Russia's communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, throttled access to Telegram on February 9 and 10, 2026, marking a significant escalation in the Kremlin's three-year effort to control the national information space and promote state-backed digital services.
UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan has expressed concern that Germany's anti-terrorism laws are shrinking the space for freedom of expression, particularly impacting advocacy for Palestinian rights and leading to self-censorship in academic and artistic circles.
A new report from the UK's Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) calls for government regulation of AI-generated news. Key recommendations include fair payment for news publishers whose content is used by AI systems and the implementation of transparent 'nutrition labels' to inform users about content origins and generation methods. The think tank warns that without intervention, AI could narrow public perspectives and undermine independent journalism.
Photojournalists Artin Ghazanfari and Hamed Araghi have been detained by Iranian authorities in January 2026, weeks after a nationwide internet shutdown began. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for their immediate release, citing concerns over media targeting during the information blackout.
Pope Leo XIV has cautioned against the pervasive dangers of 'fake news' and the trivialization of information in digital media, emphasizing the need for discernment and quality communication. His remarks were made on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of an Italian television program and reiterated in an address to a Vatican charity coalition.
Turkish authorities have detained multiple journalists in Şırnak, Istanbul, and Nusaybin while they were covering pro-Kurdish protests. The detentions, which included both local and international reporters, have prompted strong calls for their immediate release from press freedom organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Iranian authorities have suspended the pro-reform daily newspaper Ham-Mihan and targeted business leaders, including Mohammad Saedinia, accused of supporting recent unrest. The newspaper's suspension on January 19, 2026, followed its coverage of protests, while businessmen face arrest and asset seizure for alleged involvement in strikes.
The Economic Court of Minsk finalized the liquidation of the prominent independent news agency BelaPAN on December 23, 2025. This move follows allegations of tax violations and a broader crackdown on independent media in Belarus, which saw several BelaPAN journalists receive lengthy prison sentences.
Hackers briefly interrupted Iranian state television's satellite transmissions on Sunday, January 18, 2026, to broadcast footage of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. The broadcast included messages urging security forces to join protesters and not to target citizens, occurring amidst ongoing nationwide unrest in Iran.
Iran's state-imposed internet blackout has entered its second week, with connectivity at critically low levels. The shutdown, initiated on January 8, 2026, aims to suppress nationwide protests sparked by economic grievances and conceal a violent government crackdown.
Roger Infalt, President of the Luxembourg Press Council, has voiced significant concerns over declining press freedom and rising self-censorship in the Grand Duchy. His remarks follow a pivotal November 2025 court ruling and coincide with ongoing government efforts to enhance journalist protections and access to information.
Indonesia has temporarily blocked Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot, citing concerns over its role in generating AI-powered pornographic content and deepfakes. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs initiated the block on January 10, 2026, making Indonesia the first country to deny access to the AI tool due to these issues.
