Generally Free
This is the weighted total of the four scored pillars.
Jurisdiction assessmentResearch confidence: Low · Evidence coverage: Standard
Holy See · 2026
Holy See
Access to the global internet is open and direct censorship is limited. Institutional opacity, constrained public accountability, and incomplete privacy and oversight mechanisms prevent a higher score.
Assessment windowJanuary 1–December 31, 2025
Research cutoffJuly 17, 2026
FrameworkMethodology v0.3 · 20 indicators
Territory coverageVatican City State and the governing institutions of the Holy See
Finding
01Why Holy See received this score.
Access to the global internet is open and direct censorship is limited. Institutional opacity, constrained public accountability, and incomplete privacy and oversight mechanisms prevent a higher score.
The score draws on country reporting, network measurements, shutdown records, journalist cases, privacy law, and rule-of-law data. The indicator findings below show how that evidence was converted into points. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Open Internet & Content Controls
No systematic political filtering or state-directed shutdown pattern was established in the reviewed record.
Free Expression & Civic Space
Speech laws, official pressure, or civil liability create recurring risks for journalists and online critics.
Standard coverage
10 cited sources support this assessment.
Scored assessment
02Indicator scores.
Each indicator receives 0–4 points. Five indicators form a pillar. The pillar average is converted to a percentage and multiplied by its published weight.
B
30% weight
Open Internet & Content Controls
No systematic political filtering or state-directed shutdown pattern was established in the reviewed record.
87.526.3 / 30 points
B1Shutdowns and throttling3.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: No government-ordered internet shutdown or general filtering system was identified; ordinary access to global websites, secure services, and circumvention tools remains available.; OONI measurements and the Access Now shutdown record provide the incident check. [2][3][4][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's B1 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
B2Website and service blocking3.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: No government-ordered internet shutdown or general filtering system was identified; ordinary access to global websites, secure services, and circumvention tools remains available.; the country OONI dashboard supplies direct network measurements. [3][1][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's B2 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
B3Removal and filtering orders3.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: No government-ordered internet shutdown or general filtering system was identified; ordinary access to global websites, secure services, and circumvention tools remains available.. [2][1][3][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's B3 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
B4Intermediary liability3.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: No government-ordered internet shutdown or general filtering system was identified; ordinary access to global websites, secure services, and circumvention tools remains available.. [2][1][3][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's B4 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
B5Circumvention and cross-border access3.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: No government-ordered internet shutdown or general filtering system was identified; ordinary access to global websites, secure services, and circumvention tools remains available.; OONI and Freedom House records provide the circumvention check. [3][1][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's B5 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
C
30% weight
Free Expression & Civic Space
Speech laws, official pressure, or civil liability create recurring risks for journalists and online critics.
62.518.8 / 30 points
C1Legal protection for expression2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: Public online communication is broadly accessible, but the Holy See's ecclesiastical form of government does not provide the plural electoral and civic contest found in constitutional democracies.. [1][7][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's C1 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
C2Speech-related offenses2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: Public online communication is broadly accessible, but the Holy See's ecclesiastical form of government does not provide the plural electoral and civic contest found in constitutional democracies.; Freedom House country reporting supplies the offense and enforcement record. [2][1][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's C2 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
C3Arrests and penalties2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: Public online communication is broadly accessible, but the Holy See's ecclesiastical form of government does not provide the plural electoral and civic contest found in constitutional democracies.; CPJ and Freedom House records provide the documented case check. [2][5][1][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's C3 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
C4Harassment, violence, and digital attacks2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: Public online communication is broadly accessible, but the Holy See's ecclesiastical form of government does not provide the plural electoral and civic contest found in constitutional democracies.; CPJ and Freedom House reporting provide the violence, harassment, and accountability record. [5][8][1][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's C4 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
C5Civic participation and pluralism2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: Public online communication is broadly accessible, but the Holy See's ecclesiastical form of government does not provide the plural electoral and civic contest found in constitutional democracies.. [2][1][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's C5 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
D
20% weight
Privacy, Anonymity & User Security
Privacy law provides meaningful rights, but exemptions, enforcement gaps, or intelligence powers remain material.
75.015.0 / 20 points
D1Data protection rights3.0 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 General Regulation created access, correction, deletion, portability, objection, and complaint rights, while leaving significant institutional exceptions and limited public enforcement history.. [6][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's D1 evidence supports 3.0/4. Protection is generally effective, with recurring but bounded shortcomings.
D2Surveillance law and authorization3.0 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 General Regulation created access, correction, deletion, portability, objection, and complaint rights, while leaving significant institutional exceptions and limited public enforcement history.. [1][7][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's D2 evidence supports 3.0/4. Protection is generally effective, with recurring but bounded shortcomings.
D3Retention, access, and identity mandates3.0 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 General Regulation created access, correction, deletion, portability, objection, and complaint rights, while leaving significant institutional exceptions and limited public enforcement history.; UNCTAD and Freedom House records provide the retention and identity-law check. [1][6][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's D3 evidence supports 3.0/4. Protection is generally effective, with recurring but bounded shortcomings.
D4Targeted surveillance and spyware3.0 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 General Regulation created access, correction, deletion, portability, objection, and complaint rights, while leaving significant institutional exceptions and limited public enforcement history.; CPJ and Freedom House reporting provide the targeted-surveillance case record. [5][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's D4 evidence supports 3.0/4. Protection is generally effective, with recurring but bounded shortcomings.
D5Encryption and anonymity3.0 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 General Regulation created access, correction, deletion, portability, objection, and complaint rights, while leaving significant institutional exceptions and limited public enforcement history.; OONI and Freedom House records provide the encryption and anonymity check. [3][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's D5 evidence supports 3.0/4. Protection is generally effective, with recurring but bounded shortcomings.
E
20% weight
Rule of Law & Accountability
Formal remedies exist, but cost, delay, secrecy, or inconsistent enforcement limits their practical value.
62.512.5 / 20 points
E1Judicial independence and due process2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 publication decree and data-protection complaint route improve transparency and remedy, but legislative, executive, and ultimate judicial authority remain institutionally concentrated.. [7][1][10][9]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's E1 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
E2Independent regulators2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 publication decree and data-protection complaint route improve transparency and remedy, but legislative, executive, and ultimate judicial authority remain institutionally concentrated.. [7][1][10][9]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's E2 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
E3Government transparency2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 publication decree and data-protection complaint route improve transparency and remedy, but legislative, executive, and ultimate judicial authority remain institutionally concentrated.. [7][1][10][9]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's E3 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
E4Notice, appeal, and remedy2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 publication decree and data-protection complaint route improve transparency and remedy, but legislative, executive, and ultimate judicial authority remain institutionally concentrated.. [7][1][10][9]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's E4 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
E5Open and multistakeholder policymaking2.5 / 4
Observed record
Holy See: The 2024 publication decree and data-protection complaint route improve transparency and remedy, but legislative, executive, and ultimate judicial authority remain institutionally concentrated.. [2][1][10][9]
Scoring judgment
Holy See's E5 evidence supports 2.5/4. Meaningful safeguards coexist with material restrictions.
Jurisdiction findings
03Findings by pillar.
These are the principal findings for each scored part of the report. The indicator records above provide the supporting detail.
Open Internet & Content Controls
No systematic political filtering or state-directed shutdown pattern was established in the reviewed record.
[2][3][4]Free Expression & Civic Space
Speech laws, official pressure, or civil liability create recurring risks for journalists and online critics.
[2][5][8]Privacy, Anonymity & User Security
Privacy law provides meaningful rights, but exemptions, enforcement gaps, or intelligence powers remain material.
[6][1]Rule of Law & Accountability
Formal remedies exist, but cost, delay, secrecy, or inconsistent enforcement limits their practical value.
[7][1]Research record
04Coverage
Vatican City State and the governing institutions of the Holy See, assessed from January 1 through December 31, 2025.
Evidence
Network measurements, legal and institutional datasets, shutdown records, and documented cases support the findings.
Scoring
Twenty indicators measure content openness, expression, privacy, security, and institutional checks under Methodology v0.3.
Source register
05Sources used for this report.
Country reporting, open measurements, and cross-national datasets form the report record.
- 01Freedom HouseCountries and Territories comparative index ↗Civil society · 2026 edition
- 02Digital Society ProjectDigital Society Project Dataset v8 ↗Independent measurement · 2000–2025 country-year data
- 03Open Observatory of Network InterferenceHoly See measurement dashboard ↗Independent measurement · Accessed July 17, 2026
- 04Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalitionInternet Shutdowns in 2025 Annual Report ↗Civil society · March 2026
- 05Committee to Protect Journalists2025 journalist prison census and case database ↗Civil society · January 21, 2026
- 06UN Trade and DevelopmentData protection and privacy legislation worldwide ↗International organization · Accessed July 17, 2026
- 07World Justice ProjectRule of Law Index 2025 ↗Independent measurement · October 28, 2025
- 08Reporters Without BordersWorld Press Freedom Index 2026 ↗Civil society · May 2026
- 09Vatican City StateGeneral Regulation on the Protection of Personal Data ↗Official data · May 2024
- 10Holy SeeDecree on the Publication of Regulatory Measures in Vatican City State ↗Law and court record · January 16, 2024