In a years-long trend that only appears to be accelerating, journalists around the world are confronting what they see as a wave of legislative threats(new window) and legal intimidation(new window), an atmosphere in which governments are deploying increasingly aggressive tactics to silence critical voices(new window) and suppress uncomfortable truths(new window).
This erosion of press freedom(new window) is global, media watchers say, and not confined to one region or political ideology. In the past year alone, the authorities have used surveillance, subpoenas, and strategic lawsuits to target journalists. They have raided(new window) newsrooms, imprisoned(new window) reporters, and weaponized(new window) national security laws to stifle dissent. Even in democracies, experts find the lines between oversight and censorship to be blurring.
“It’s exceptionally challenging,” said Angie Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter(new window), in a conversation with Proton. “The most challenging I’ve seen in my lifetime as a working journalist.”
After a period of democratic flourishing in the 1990s and early 2000s, Holan said, “we’re seeing these authoritarian movements around the world that are gaining traction, including in the United States.”
Holan warns that these attacks follow a predictable and dangerous pattern. “Some political scientists say authoritarians follow a playbook, and their first play is to take out the independent press and the independent courts so they can do whatever they want,” she said. “We’re seeing that in the United States and worldwide right now. It’s a very perilous moment.”
Targeting journalists: from subpoenas to surveillance
Governments have long used censorship, intimidation, and violence to silence the press. What is new, and deeply concerning to the media organizations that monitor these efforts, is the way aggressive tactics are now appearing in places traditionally seen as defenders of press freedom, including the United States and Europe.
Even if they are happening in the US, lawsuits against CBS News(new window) and pollsters(new window) or the labeling of the media as “illegal” and “corrupt”(new window) have international consequences, according to Holan, who noted that authoritarian leaders around the world often use Washington’s actions as cover for their own behavior.
In Venezuela, journalist jailings have reached record highs and some outlets have been forced underground in the wake of contested elections(new window). In China, the government continues to detain reporters and activists who speak out against the state, including the recent re-detention of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan(new window).
A report found that attacks on journalists have doubled in Germany(new window). In Burkina Faso, authorities have shut down media outlets and targeted reporters amid allegations of mass killings(new window). In Argentina, the government shuttered the historic Telam(new window) state news agency following threats from President Javier Milei.
In Serbia, the authorities raided the offices of independent journalists(new window). In Russia, independent media has been all but dismantled(new window). Across Asia, governments continue to arrest and harass journalists under the guise of national security(new window). The traditional stigma against targeting reporters — once a powerful deterrent — is fading fast.
Digital threats are growing – but many journalists are unprepared
As the political climate grows more hostile, so does the digital environment in which journalists operate.
Surveillance tactics have become more sophisticated, cyberattacks are increasing, and online harassment is growing more aggressive. Yet many newsrooms remain underprepared to meet these threats, according to Pamela Morinière, head of campaigns and communications at the International Federation of Journalists(new window) (IFJ).
“Not many are fully aware of the digital implications of not using a VPN, not using encrypted messages, not choosing very secure passwords,” Morinière said. “It becomes a real problem when they are doing investigative work. Not every single journalist will be spied on. The investigative journalists are on the front lines, so they have to be very careful.”
The gap often comes down to resources. Larger media organizations may have dedicated IT teams or in-house digital security experts. But smaller outlets, freelance journalists, and independent newsrooms often lack the funding, training, or technical knowledge to properly protect themselves. In some cases, journalists handling sensitive investigations have no choice but to rely on personal email accounts or unsecured messaging apps — putting themselves and their sources at risk.
These dangers exist at all levels, from an investigative journalist working with sensitive sources, to a fact-checker confronting disinformation, to a newsroom editor navigating an increasingly hostile legal environment. Secure tools such as end-to-end encrypted communications empower journalists to continue their essential work, but even encryption is increasingly under threat, as seen in Australia(new window), the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Even for organizations that prioritize digital security, however, the landscape is constantly shifting. “Even if you are trained on it, you often wonder, ‘Is my training as up to date as I need it to be?'” Holan said. “Threats are constantly evolving and emerging.”
Freelancers, Morinière said, are particularly vulnerable, as few have access to the kinds of digital security training that larger newsrooms may offer. To address this gap, the IFJ has begun offering digital safety training in regions around the world(new window), aiming to give more journalists the tools they need to protect themselves.
“Journalists have to be experts in digital hygiene and cyber security and the best practices of how to keep yourself safe online,” said Clayton Weimers, executive director of Reporters Without Borders’ Washington-based US office. “We firmly believe that journalists need to be making use of all these tools — like VPNs and end-to-end encryption. They need to be very conscious of what’s on their devices, especially when they’re crossing borders, or if they’re out in the field reporting a story that could put them in a position to be detained by law enforcement.“
While strong digital security can help journalists protect their communications, sources, and sensitive information, it is not a cure-all. No tool can fully shield journalists from legal harassment, violence, or political retaliation. But adopting better security practices can make it harder for bad actors to succeed — and easier for journalists to keep doing their work.
How Proton supports the people holding power to account
Every year, journalists are killed or imprisoned for doing their jobs(new window). Thousands more face surveillance, censorship, and retaliation. At Proton, we believe the best way to protect press freedom is to give journalists tools that make them harder to target — and easier to trust.
At Proton, we believe that protecting privacy is fundamental to protecting press freedom. That is why we build end-to-end encrypted email with Proton Mail, secure cloud storage with Proton Drive, and anonymous browsing protection with Proton VPN(new window) — all based in Switzerland under some of the world’s strongest privacy laws. Our services are designed to make security simple and accessible, even for those without a cybersecurity background.
We apply strong, end-to-end encryption across all our services — email, files, documents, calendars, and passwords — so no one, not even Proton, can access your data. That means whistleblower tips stay confidential. Drafts of sensitive investigations stay private. And you can collaborate with your newsroom or sources without worrying about who might be watching.
As a Swiss company, we cannot be compelled to hand over your data by foreign governments. We also do not log your activity or sell your information to advertisers. Our open-source, independently audited apps are trusted by journalists around the world.
To support the media during this critical time, Proton is now offering discounted plans for newsrooms. Whether you are a small local publisher or an international media outlet, our team remains committed to giving journalists the tools they need to do their essential work — safely, privately, and without fear.
