Report on Internet freedom finds regimes more sophisticated in censorship

Report finds online censorship more sophisticated

NEW YORK — Repressive regimes have stepped up efforts to censor the Internet and jail dissidents. That’s what Reporters Without Borders says in a study released Thursday.

The group’s list of countries least tolerant of online freedoms saw little change from a year ago. China, Iran and Tunisia remain on the group’s “Enemies of the Internet” list. Its Washington director, Clothilde Le Coz, says those countries’ censorship efforts have become more sophisticated.

Meanwhile, Turkey and Russia are being added to an “Under Surveillance” list of nations in danger of making the main enemies list next year.

Zimbabwe and Yemen have dropped off the surveillance list. But Le Coz says that’s mainly because the Internet isn’t used much in either country, not because of changes by the governments.