Short answers, pulled from the story.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948 sets out the right to receive and impart information and ideas. This declaration established that everyone has the freedom to hold opinions without interference.
Global internet access reached just over 5.35 billion users in 2024 amounting to about 66 per cent of the world's population. Yet the digital divide continues to exclude over half of the world's population particularly women and girls.
Reporters without Borders maintains an internet enemy list including Cuba Iran Maldives Myanmar Burma North Korea Syria Tunisia Uzbekistan and Vietnam. These states engage in pervasive internet censorship.
In June 2006 nearly 70 countries had freedom of information legislation applying to government bodies and certain private bodies. In 19 of these countries the legislation also applied to private bodies.
By the end of 2017 an estimated 48 per cent of individuals regularly connect to the internet up from 34 per cent in 2012. Annual growth rates slowed to five per cent in 2017 dropping from a ten per cent rate in 2012.