Why governments do not want the Internet to be free?

In the Digital Government Podcast Episode, the previous contributors to the report "Freedom on The Net", Linnar Viik and Katrin Nyman-Metcalf , shed light on this year's Internet Freedom Index global report. They clarify two different views on freedom of expression, which is one of the cornerstones of Internet freedom, and answer the question of why governments don't like the Internet to be free.

The report "Freedom on The Net" is published by a US-based think tank annually. It analyses the rights and freedoms of people in 65 countries regarding public webspace. The index covers areas, such as obstacles to access, lack of unfounded restrictions on online content, ensuring user rights, as well as the freedom and responsibilities of online user behaviour. The overall findings of the report this year were that the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating a dramatic decline in global internet freedom.