Estonia among top in world for Internet freedom

TALLINN - Estonia has fallen to second place in the world for Internet freedom, a new study shows. New figures from U.S-based human rights group Freedom House shows how the tiny Baltic State is among the top in the world for Internet freedom and transparency.

The study, however, observed obstacles to access to the Internet, limits on content including censorship, and violations of user rights were observed. Estonia just fell behind Iceland, which ranked first, while Latvia and Lithuania were not mentioned.

The report says Internet freedom has deteriorated worldwide in the past year, while activists are finding new ways to counter repressive measures. Freedom House says new laws controlling Web content and increased arrests of social-media users led to a decline in Internet freedom.
 
The yearly report listed 34 countries as having seen a decline in Internet freedom, including Vietnam, Ethiopia, India, the United States and Brazil.