Governments worldwide are increasingly using financial laws and regulations to silence journalists and media outlets, according to a new UNESCO report released Thursday.
The study reveals that 60% of documented cases involving financial allegations against journalists occurred between 2019 and 2023, marking a sharp uptick in what appears to be a coordinated effort to stifle press freedom through economic pressure.
“Journalists play an essential role in society investigating wrongdoing and advancing transparency,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. “They should never be targeted with unfounded allegations of financial crimes or subject to legal harassment to silence them.”
The report, which analysed 120 cases spanning from 2005 to 2024, found that authorities frequently employ charges of extortion, tax evasion, and money laundering to target journalists. Unlike traditional libel or defamation cases, these financial charges often require no direct connection to the journalist’s reporting, making them particularly effective tools for harassment.
State actors emerge as the primary instigators of these charges, with executive powers often directing administrative bodies like tax authorities to launch investigations, bypassing judicial oversight. The consequences can be severe: journalists face asset freezes, reduced income, and potential imprisonment while awaiting trial. In some cases, entire media organisations have been forced to close.
Regional analysis shows the practice is particularly prevalent in Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, especially Central Asia, where 41 cases were documented between 2020 and 2024—more than double the number recorded in the previous twelve years. This trend has been in evidence since the early 2010s. In South Asia, extortion charges have been misused since the mid-2000s, and restricting foreign funding or charging independent media outlets with funding terrorism is also common. In Africa, at least eight occurred between 2019 and 2023, compared to seven during the previous ten years. Of the cases in these two regions, tax evasion and extortion were the most frequent charges brought and nine people received jail sentences, the highest sentence being 12 years.
In South Asia, the harassment often intensifies during key periods such as protests, electoral campaigns, and major international events. The practice of restricting foreign funding or accusing independent media of terrorism financing has become increasingly common in the region.
UNESCO researchers note that their findings likely underestimate the true scope of the problem, as the study relied on publicly available information, desk reviews, and interviews with lawyers, journalists, and press freedom experts. The report builds on previous UNESCO analyses from 2021 and 2022, which first identified this growing trend in legal harassment of journalists.
The findings raise serious concerns about the erosion of press freedom globally and the sophisticated methods being employed to silence independent media voices. UNESCO has called on its Member States to take immediate action to protect journalists from such practices, warning that these tactics ultimately undermine freedom of expression for all citizens.
Featured image: Raajje TV/ Mohamed Sharuhaan
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