11. Laos
The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party has been in power since the country gain independence from France in 1953. It has gone the usual route for all other communist regimes worldwide when it comes to the media freedoms, complete control of all agencies and quick stomping of any dissenting voices. However, as Internet became more available to the population, it has become a popular platform for the opposition to be heard. The government has introduced a decree that criminalized any critic of “Marxist-Leninist though” and the party itself, which led to several arrests and convictions. Any foreign media wishing to operate in Laos must allow the state censors unlimited access to their materials, a condition few were ready to accept.
