Cloudwards Research Project published State of the World Internet Freedom Report 2026. The results for the Russian segment of the network were disappointing: Russia scored only 4 points out of 100 possible, in fact, being on a par with China, Iran and Pakistan.
Table of Contents
How was the rating calculated?
The authors of the study evaluated countries according to four key criteria: the availability of torrents, the presence of restrictions on adult content, freedom of political and civic expression, as well as the legality and operation of VPN services. In Russia, none of these categories was recognized as "fully accessible".
Experts note that the country's largest platforms are blocked or severely restricted - X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. In addition, expressing "undesirable" political views online can have dire consequences, including fines and prison sentences. VPN services are also under constant pressure and blocking.
Who is worse on the list than Russia?
Below Russia in the global ranking is only North Korea, which received 0 points. In this country, only a narrow circle of elites has access to the global Internet, while the rest of the citizens use the closed national network "Gwangmyong".
What about Belarus?
Belarus was the only European country to fall into the lowest category of the ranking (20 points and below).
- Freedom of speech: Criticism of the regime is not allowed, and the websites of human rights organizations are blocked as "extremist".
- VPNs and social networks: The use of VPNs is officially prohibited, although citizens continue to use them to circumvent censorship. Social media (e.g. Instagram) remains accessible but is often subject to restrictions, especially during election periods.
Where is the Internet the freest?
The leaders of the rating are 11 countries, each of which scored 92 points. In these states, there are no restrictions on social media, VPNs, or political discussions.
The list of the best includes:
- Europe: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Slovakia and Liechtenstein.
- Other regions: Costa Rica, New Zealand, Suriname and Timor-Leste.
Interestingly, even in the most "free" countries, torrent trackers are often subject to restrictions due to copyright laws — this is the only category that has not received the highest score almost anywhere in the world.
USA received in the rating 64 points, and United Kingdom — 52, being in the middle of the list due to restrictions on torrenting and pornography (including age verification).
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Now check how well you understand the state of Internet freedom in the world for 2026:
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