Press freedom predator
{{Short description|Anti-award attributed to those having a negative effect on press freedom}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
Press freedom predator is an anti-award distributed every few years by Reporters Without Borders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/7/pakistan-imran-khan-press-freedom-predator|title=Pakistan rejects naming of PM Khan as press freedom ‘predator’|website=www.aljazeera.com}} It is attributed to heads of state or groups who are deemed to have a negative effect on press freedom.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/press-watchdog-puts-37-world-leaders-on-predators-list/articleshow/84165166.cms|title=Press freedom: India, Pakistan PMs among 37 world leaders on 'predators' list - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}
Recipients often vehemently deny that they deserve their place on the list.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1146098|title=Baseless to include Duterte on ‘press freedom predator’ list|website=www.pna.gov.ph}} In 2020, Reporters Without Borders also released a list of 20 press freedom's digital predators.{{cite web |url=https://rsf.org/en/news/rsf-unveils-202020-list-press-freedoms-digital-predators |title=RSF unveils 20/2020 list of press freedom's digital predators |date=12 March 2020 |access-date= 13 July 2021}}
2021
In July 2021, the list of press freedom predators published by Reporters Without Borders includes:{{Cite web|url=https://rsf.org/en/news/rsfs-2021-press-freedom-predators-gallery-old-tyrants-two-women-and-european|title=RSF’s 2021 “Press freedom predators” gallery – old tyrants, two women and a European | Reporters without borders|date=July 2, 2021|website=RSF}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.reportrarutangranser.se/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/A4-Predateur-EN-1.pdf|title=Predators 2021|date= 2021|website=RSF}}
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| class="unsortable"|Image
! Name ! Country ! Role |
|---|
| 100px
|{{flag|Egypt}} |President of Egypt (2014–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Belarus}} |President of Belarus (1994–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Iran}} |Supreme Leader of Iran (1989–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Syria|1980}} |President of Syria (2000–2024) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Hong Kong}} |Chief Executive of Hong Kong (2017–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Nicaragua}} |President of Nicaragua (1979–1990 and 2007–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Tajikistan}} |President of Tajikistan (1994–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}} |President of Sri Lanka (2019–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Turkmenistan}} |President of Turkmenistan (2007–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Bahrain}} |King of Bahrain (2002–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Cambodia}} |Prime Minister of Cambodia (1998–2023) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Azerbaijan}} |President of Azerbaijan (2003–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Pakistan}} |Prime Minister of Pakistan (2018–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Eritrea}} |President of Eritrea (1993–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Djibouti}} |President of Djibouti (1999–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Brazil}} |President of Brazil (2019–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|North Korea}} |Supreme Leader of North Korea (2011–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Singapore}} |Prime Minister of Singapore (2004–2024) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Cuba}} |First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (2021–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Myanmar}} |Chairman of the State Administration Council (2021–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} |Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (2017–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|India}} |Prime Minister of India (2014–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Vietnam}} |General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (2011–2024) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Venezuela}} |President of Venezuela (2013–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Cameroon}} |President of Cameroon (1982–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Rwanda}} |President of Rwanda (2000–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Thailand}} |Prime Minister of Thailand (2014–2023) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Chechnya}} |Head of the Chechen Republic (2007–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Turkey}} |President of Turkey (2014–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Philippines}} |President of the Philippines (2016–2020) |
| 100px
|{{flag|South Sudan}} |President of South Sudan (2011–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Bangladesh}} |Prime Minister of Bangladesh (1996–2001 and 2009–2024) |
| 100px
|Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo |{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}} |President of Equatorial Guinea (1979–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Hungary}} |Prime Minister of Hungary (1998–2002 and 2010–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Russia}} |President of Russia (2000–2008 and 2012–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|China}} |General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (2012–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Uganda}} |President of Uganda (1986–present) |
2016
In October 2016, the list of press freedom predators published by Reporters Without Borders includes:{{cite web|url=https://gallery.mailchimp.com/5cb8824c726d51483ba41891e/files/Predator_of_press_freedom.02.pdf|title=Press Freedom Predators |newspaper=Reporters Without Borders|date=2016 |access-date= June 25, 2022}}
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| class="unsortable"|Image
! Name ! Country ! Role |
|---|
| 100px
|{{flag|Egypt}} |President of Egypt (2014–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Somalia}} |Islamic insurgence group active in East Africa |
| 100px
|{{flag|Belarus}} |President of Belarus (1994–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Iran}} |Supreme Leader of Iran (1989–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Yemen}} |An Islamist political and armed movement in Yemen |
| 100px
|{{flag|Bangladesh}} |An Islamic Jihadi organization in Bangladesh |
| 100px
|{{flag|Syria|1980}} |President of Syria (2000–2024) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Turkmenistan}} |President of Turkmenistan (2007–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Bahrain}} |King of Bahrain (2002–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Azerbaijan}} |President of Azerbaijan (2003–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Eritrea}} |President of Eritrea (1993–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Iraq}} |Militant Islamist group and former unrecognized quasi-state |
| 100px
|{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} |President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2001–2019) |
| 100px
|{{flag|North Korea}} |Supreme Leader of North Korea (2011–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Singapore}} |Prime Minister of Singapore (2004–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Mexico}} |Mexican criminal syndicate |
| |Nguyễn Phú Trọng
|{{flag|Vietnam}} |General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (2011–2024) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Venezuela}} |President of Venezuela (2013–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Kazakhstan}} |President of Kazakhstan (1991–2019) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Sudan}} |President of Sudan (1993–2019) |
| |Inter-Services Intelligence
|{{flag|Pakistan}} |Pakistan's intelligence agency |
| 100px
|{{flag|Rwanda}} |President of Rwanda (2000–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Burundi}} |President of Burundi (2005–2020) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Thailand}} |Prime Minister of Thailand (2014–2023) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Chechnya}} |Head of the Chechen Republic (2007–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Cuba}} |First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (2011–2021) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Turkey}} |President of Turkey (2014–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Zimbabwe}} |President of Zimbabwe (1987–2017) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} |King of Saudi Arabia (2015–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|South Sudan}} |President of South Sudan (2011–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Afghanistan}} |Islamic fundamentalist, militant Islamist, and jihadist political movement in Afghanistan |
| 100px
|Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo |{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}} |President of Equatorial Guinea (1979–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Russia}} |President of Russia (2000–2008 and 2012–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|China}} |General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (2012–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|The Gambia}} |President of the Gambia (1996–2017) |
2013
In May 2013, the list of press freedom predators published by Reporters Without Borders includes:{{Cite web|url=https://rsf.org/sites/default/files/predators_2013_en.pdf|title=Predators|date=2013|website=RSF|access-date=June 25, 2022}}
=Africa=
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| class="unsortable"|Image
! Name ! Country ! Role |
|---|
| 100px
|{{flag|Somalia}} |Islamic insurgence group active in East Africa |
| 100px
|{{flag|Nigeria}} |An Islamic terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria |
| 100px
|{{flag|Somalia}} |Somali Islamist group |
| 100px
|{{flag|Eritrea}} |President of Eritrea (1993–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Eswatini}} |King of Eswatini (1986–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Rwanda}} |President of Rwanda (2000–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Zimbabwe}} |President of Zimbabwe (1987–2017) |
| 100px
|Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo |{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}} |President of Equatorial Guinea (1979–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|The Gambia}} |President of the Gambia (1996–2017) |
=Americas=
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| class="unsortable"|Image
! Name ! Country ! Role |
|---|
| 100px
|{{flag|Colombia}} |Leader of the drug trafficking group Clan del Golfo |
| 100px
|{{flag|Mexico}} |Mexican criminal syndicate |
| 100px
|{{flag|Honduras}} |Honduran businessman and landowner |
| |Miguel Treviño Morales
|{{flag|Mexico}} |Mexican drug lord |
| 100px
|{{flag|Cuba}} |First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (2011–2021) |
=Asia=
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| class="unsortable"|Image
! Name ! Country ! Role |
|---|
| 100px
|Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} |King of Saudi Arabia (2005–2015) |
| |Abu Mohammad al-Julani
|{{flag|Syria|1980}} |Commander-in-chief of Tahrir al-Sham (2017–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Iran}} |Supreme Leader of Iran (1989–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Pakistan}} |A militant group waging a violent armed struggle against Pakistan for what it claims as self-determination for the Baloch people and separation of Balochistan from Pakistan. |
| 100px
|{{flag|Syria|1980}} |President of Syria (2000–2024) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Laos}} |General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (2006–2016) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}} |President of Sri Lanka (2019–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Turkmenistan}} |President of Turkmenistan (2007–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Bahrain}} |King of Bahrain (2002–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Azerbaijan}} |President of Azerbaijan (2003–present) |
| |Inter-Services Intelligence
|{{flag|Pakistan}} |Pakistan's intelligence agency |
| 100px
|{{flag|Uzbekistan}} |President of Uzbekistan (1991–2016) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Israel}} |Military forces of the State of Israel |
| 100px
|{{flag|North Korea}} |Supreme Leader of North Korea (2011–present) |
| |Leaders and members of extremist religious groups
|{{flag|Maldives}} | |
| 100px
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}} |President of Sri Lanka (2005–2015) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Iran}} |President of Iran (2005–2013) |
| |Mullah Omar
|{{flag|Afghanistan}} |Founder and leader of Taliban |
| 100px
|{{flag|Egypt}} |A transnational Sunni Islamist organization |
| 100px
|{{flag|Vietnam}} |General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (2011–2024) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Kazakhstan}} |President of Kazakhstan (1991–2019) |
| |Private militias
|{{flag|Philippines}} | |
| 100px
|{{flag|Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic}} |Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (1993–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|China}} |General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (2012–present) |
=Europe=
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| class="unsortable"|Image
! Name ! Country ! Role |
|---|
| 100px
|{{flag|Belarus}} |President of Belarus (1994–present) |
| |Camorra
|{{flag|Italy}} |Italian Mafia-type criminal organization and criminal society originating in the region of Campania, and is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy. |
| 100px
|{{flag|Chechnya}} |Head of the Chechen Republic (2007–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Russia}} |President of Russia (2000–2008 and 2012–present) |
2009–2011
The list of press freedom predators published by Reporters Without Borders from 2009 to 2011 includes:{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/may/04/pressfreedomrsf|title=Media predators|first=Jef|last=Juillard|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2007-05-04 |access-date= June 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/reporters-without-borders-names-40-press-freedom--039-predators-039-/s2/a538533/|title=Reporters Without Borders names 40 press freedom 'predators'
|first=Judith|last=Townend|newspaper=journalism.co.uk|date=2010-05-04 |access-date= June 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.archive.kubatana.net/docs/media/rsf_predators_of_press_freedom_100503.pdf|title=Predators of Press Freedom|first=|last=|newspaper=kubatana.net|date=2010|access-date= June 26, 2022}}
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| class="unsortable"|Image
! Name ! Country ! Role |
|---|
| 100px
|Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} |King of Saudi Arabia (2005–2015) |
| |Abdulkadir Hussein Mohamed
|{{flag|Somalia}} |Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications of Somalia |
| 100px
|{{flag|Belarus}} |President of Belarus (1994–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Somalia}} |Islamic insurgence group active in East Africa |
| 100px
|{{flag|Yemen}} |President of Yemen (1990–2012) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Iran}} |Supreme Leader of Iran (1989–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Syria|1980}} |President of Syria (2000–2024) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Colombia}} |Colombian paramilitary forces |
| 100px
|{{flag|Laos}} |General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (2006–2016) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Spain}} |An armed Basque nationalist and separatist terrorist organization |
| 100px
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}} |President of Sri Lanka (2019–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Mexico}} |Mexican drug cartel |
| 100px
|{{flag|Turkmenistan}} |President of Turkmenistan (2007–2022) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Bahrain}} |King of Bahrain (2002–present) |
| |Hamas
|{{flag|Palestine}} |A Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist, militant and nationalist organization |
| 100px
|{{flag|Somalia}} |Somali Islamist group |
| 100px
|{{flag|China}} |General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (2002–2012) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Azerbaijan}} |President of Azerbaijan (2003–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Eritrea}} |President of Eritrea (1993–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Uzbekistan}} |President of Uzbekistan (1991–2016) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Israel}} |Military forces of the State of Israel |
| |Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha
|{{flag|Nepal}} |A political organisation in Nepal |
| |Juárez Cartel
|{{flag|Mexico}} |Mexican drug cartel |
| 100px
|{{flag|North Korea}} |Supreme Leader of North Korea (1994–2011) |
| |Madhesh Mukti Tigers
|{{flag|Nepal}} |An armed group in Nepal |
| 100px
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}} |President of Sri Lanka (2005–2015) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Iran}} |President of Iran (2005–2013) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Eswatini}} |King of Eswatini (1986–present) |
| |Mullah Omar
|{{flag|Afghanistan}} |Founder and leader of Taliban |
| 100px
|{{flag|Libya}} |Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution of Libya (1979–2011) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Vietnam}} |General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (2001–2011) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Kazakhstan}} |President of Kazakhstan (1991–2019) |
| |Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo
|{{flag|Nigeria}} |Inspector General of the Nigerian Police (2009–2010) |
| |Organized crime
|{{flag|Italy}} | |
| 100px
|Palestinian Security Services |{{flag|Palestine}} |Armed forces and intelligence agencies of the State of Palestine |
| 100px
|{{flag|Rwanda}} |President of Rwanda (2000–present) |
| |Private militias
|{{flag|Philippines}} | |
| 100px
|{{flag|Chechnya}} |Head of the Chechen Republic (2007–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Cuba}} |First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (2011–2021) |
| 100px
|Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia |{{flag|Colombia}} |Colombian Marxist–Leninist guerrilla group |
| 100px
|{{flag|Zimbabwe}} |President of Zimbabwe (1987–2017) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Mexico}} |Mexican drug cartel |
| 100px
|{{flag|Egypt}} |Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt (2004–2011) |
| 100px
|Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo |{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}} |President of Equatorial Guinea (1979–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Myanmar}} |Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (1992–2011) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Mexico}} |Mexican drug cartel |
| |Velupillai Prabhakaran
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}} |Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam |
| 100px
|{{flag|Russia}} |President of Russia (2000–2008 and 2012–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|The Gambia}} |President of the Gambia (1996–2017) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Tunisia}} |President of Tunisia (1987–2011) |
2001
In November 2001, the list of press freedom predators published by Reporters Without Borders includes:{{cite web|url=https://ifex.org/rsf-publishes-list-of-thirty-nine-press-freedom-predators/|title=RSF publishes list of thirty-nine "press freedom predators"|newspaper=ifex|date=2001-11-06 |access-date= June 26, 2022}}
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| class="unsortable"|Image
! Name ! Country ! Role |
|---|
| 100px
|{{flag|Iran}} |Supreme Leader of Iran (1989–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Belarus}} |President of Belarus (1994–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Syria|1980}} |President of Syria (2000–2024) |
| |Carlos Castaño Gil
|{{flag|Colombia}} |Colombian paramilitary leader and founder of the Peasant Self-Defenders of Córdoba and Urabá |
| 100px
|{{flag|Spain}} |An armed Basque nationalist and separatist terrorist organization |
| 100px
|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} |King of Saudi Arabia (1982–2005) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Cuba}} |First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (1965–2011) |
| |François Compaoré
|{{flag|Burkina Faso}} |Economic Advisor to the President of Burkina Faso (1989–2014) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Togo}} |President of Togo (1967–2005) |
| |Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu
|{{flag|Turkey}} |Chief of the General Staff of Turkey (1998–2002) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Eritrea}} |President of Eritrea (1993–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Uzbekistan}} |President of Uzbekistan (1991–2016) |
| 100px
|{{flag|China}} |General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (1989–2002) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} |President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2001–2019) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Angola}} | President of Angola (1979–2017) |
| |Joynal Hazari
|{{flag|Bangladesh}} |Bangladeshi politician and member of Jatiya Sangsad, representing the Feni–2 constituency (1986–1987, 1991–1996 and 1996–2001) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Laos}} |General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (1992–2006) |
| |Kidnapping mafia
|{{flag|Chechnya}} | |
| 100px
|{{flag|North Korea}} |Supreme Leader of North Korea (1994–2011) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Kalmykia}} |President of Kalmykia (1993–2010) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Ukraine}} |President of Ukraine (1994–2005) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Malaysia}} |Prime Minister of Malaysia (1981–2003) and (2018-2020) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Colombia}} |Leader of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia |
| 100px
|{{flag|Ethiopia}} |Prime Minister of Ethiopia (1995–2012) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Eswatini}} |King of Eswatini (1986–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Libya}} |Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution of Libya (1979–2011) |
| |Mullah Omar
|{{flag|Afghanistan}} |Founder and leader of Taliban |
| |Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista
|{{flag|Colombia}} |Commander of National Liberation Army |
| 100px
|{{flag|Vietnam}} |General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (2001–2011) |
| 100px
|Palestinian Security Services |{{flag|Palestine}} |Armed forces and intelligence agencies of the State of Palestine |
| 100px
|{{flag|Rwanda}} |President of Rwanda (2000–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Zimbabwe}} |President of Zimbabwe (1987–2017) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Iraq}} |President of Iraq (1979–2003) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Turkmenistan}} |President of Turkmenistan (1991–2006) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Israel}} |Defense Minister of Israel (2002–2006) |
| 100px
|Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo |{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}} |President of Equatorial Guinea (1979–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Myanmar}} |Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (1992–2011) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Russia}} |President of Russia (2000–2008 and 2012–present) |
| 100px
|{{flag|Tunisia}} |President of Tunisia (1987–2011) |
Digital press freedom predators
In March 2020, as part of the World Day Against Cyber-Censorship, the Reporters Without Borders published a list of digital press freedom predators. The list includes:{{cite web|url=https://rsf.org/sites/default/files/a4_predateur-en_final.pdf|title=RSF unveils 20/2020 list of press freedom’s digital predators|newspaper=Reporters Without Borders|date=2020 |access-date= June 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/mar/12/list-of-worlds-worst-digital-predators-stretches-from-india-and-brazil-to-us|title=List of world's worst 'digital predators' stretches from India and Brazil to US|first=Peter|last=Beaumont|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2020-03-12 |access-date= June 26, 2022}}
=Harassment=
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| Name
! Country ! Description |
|---|
| Electronic Flies
|{{flag|Algeria}} |Army of internet trolls in the Algerian government’s payroll. Their main task is to discredit all journalists critical of the government by engaging in online abuse, posting personal information about them and public reporting of critical posts in online platforms in order to remove them. |
| Hate Office
|{{flag|Brazil}} |Consisting of close presidential advisers of President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro and coordinated by his son Carlos, the group publishes attacks against journalists on a large scale by engaging in social media campaigns of insults and threats. The existence of such group was revealed by Brazilian parliamentarian and former ally of Bolsonaro Joice Hasselmann. |
| Modi's Yoddhas
|{{flag|India}} |Internet trolls who either volunteer their services or are paid employees of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and are supporters of the current Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. They engage in social media insults, calls for rape and death threats against critics of Modi. Yoddhas in Hindi language means 'warriors'. |
| The Kremlin's Troll Army
|{{flag|Russia}} |An internet troll army which have an implicit backing of the Government of Russia and President of Russia Vladimir Putin. They spread false reports and videos, engage in doxing and defamation against critics of Putin, and also spread propaganda about those who denounce their activities. |
| Troll Gangs
|{{flag|Mexico}} |An internet troll group who have engaged in social media smears, threats and insults against journalists who have questioned President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s decision to release drug lord El Chapo’s son Ovidio Guzmán López. |
=State censorship=
| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" |
| class="unsortable"|Image
! Name ! Country ! Role |
|---|
| 100px
|Cyberspace Administration of China |{{flag|China}} |The central internet regulator, censor, oversight, and control agency for the People's Republic of China. The agency engages in internet censorship and supervision of private-sector platforms such as Baidu, WeChat, Weibo and Douyin, and blocking and deleting content and apps. During the COVID–19 pandemic in China, the agency has suppressed social media accounts of media outlets and bloggers, and censored news outlets critical of the government's handling of the pandemic. |
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|{{flag|India}} |The ministry of the Government of India, which is mainly responsible for the maintenance of internal security and domestic policy of the country. On 5 August 2019, it completely disconnected internet communication in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in Kashmiri journalists unable to work freely and depriving all of the state's residents from accessing independently reported news and information. Despite broadband connections being partially restored after six months, access to many sites remains largely uncertain and India is the country that most uses Internet shutdowns, with a total of 121 in 2019. |
| |National Commission of Telecommunications (Conatel) |{{flag|Venezuela}} |An agency of the Government of Venezuela that exercises the regulation, supervision and control over telecommunications. It orders the blocking of websites that are critical of the authorities of the government and many have been blocked without any possibility of appeal. The agency also temporarily blocks social media platforms such as Facebook, especially when opposition leader Juan Guaidó’s speeches are being broadcast live on Facebook. |
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|Roskomnadzor |{{flag|Russia}} |The Russian federal executive agency responsible for monitoring, controlling and censoring Russian mass media. It has blocked more than 490,000 websites without warning and without respecting legal procedure, and maintains a secret blacklist of banned sites. The agency also blocks platforms and apps that refuse to store their data on servers in Russia or provide the Russian authorities the means to decrypt messages. |
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|Supreme Council of Cyberspace |{{flag|Iran}} |The agency was created in 2012, and consists of senior military and political figures. They engage in online selective access and control, blocking news websites, social media platforms and messaging apps such as Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. Internet shutdowns are increasingly used to contain and suppress waves of street protests in the country, and publishing independent information are regarded as “counter-revolutionary” or “subversive” in nature. |
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|Supreme Council for Media Regulation |{{flag|Egypt}} |The agency was created in 2017 to "devise and implement the media strategy for the Egyptian state." It engages in the blocking of news sites and messaging apps under the grounds that they publish false information. More than 500 websites and 11 messaging apps are currently inaccessible in Egypt. |
=Disinformation=
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! Country ! Description |
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| Call Centre Hubs
|{{flag|Philippines}} |Consisting of supporters of President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte, they disseminate fake memes, maliciously edited content and conduct targeted harassment campaigns with the aim of smearing the media and manipulating public opinion. They had launched a campaign to smear and boycott the ABS-CBN radio and TV network with the aim of blocking the renewal of its licence. |
| Cyber Jihadist Unit
|{{flag|Sudan}} |The internet troll army that was created by the National Intelligence and Security Service, which spies on activists, politicians and journalists on social media. It also disseminates messages and articles with false information designed to discredit members of the current transitional government. |
| Force 47
|{{flag|Vietnam}} |An internet army of 10,100 cyber soldiers run by the Ministry of Public Security. They are tasked with setting up, moderating and posting on pro-state Facebook groups. The group is also considered the largest and most sophisticated influence network in Southeast Asia.{{cite web | title =How Vietnam's 'influencer' army wages information warfare on Facebook|publisher=Reuters| first=James|last=Pearson|accessdate = 27 June 2022| date = 9 July 2021| url =https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/how-vietnams-influencer-army-wages-information-warfare-facebook-2021-07-09/}} |
| Saudi Electronic Brigade
|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} |Led by Saud al-Qahtani, the then advisor to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the network of pro-Saudi Twitter trolls and bots used to produce more than 2,500 tweets a day consisting of false information and hate messages against the critics of the Government of Saudi Arabia. |
=Spying Surveillance=
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! Country ! Description |
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| Gamma Group
|{{flag|Germany}} |An Anglo-German technology company that sells surveillance software to governments and police forces around the world. The FinFisher software, which was developed by the company, has been used by undemocratic regimes to spy on activists and journalists. |
| Memento Labs (formerly known as Hacking Team) |{{flag|Italy}} |The company created spyware capable of extracting files from a targeted device, intercepting emails and instant messages, and activating a device's webcam or microphone, which was then sold to law enforcement and intelligence agencies. |
| Mollitiam Industries
|{{flag|Spain}} |A Spanish software company that developed tools for intercepting phone calls and emails. One of the customers of its product is the Colombian Armed Forces, which used it to illegally spy on supreme court judges, politicians, journalists and journalists’ sources. |
| NSO Group
|{{flag|Israel}} |An Israeli technology firm primarily known for its proprietary spyware Pegasus, which uses a WhatsApp flaw to install on targeted smartphones and send them infected files that open automatically. The spyware has been used to target human rights activists and journalists in various countries. |
| Zerodium (formerly known as Vupen) |{{flag|United States}} |An American information security company based in Washington, D.C. and Europe, which pays bounties to hackers and security researchers to be exclusively informed about their discoveries, which is used to spy on journalists to foreign governments. |