Highly Restricted
This is the weighted total of the four scored pillars.
Jurisdiction assessmentResearch confidence: Medium · Evidence coverage: Standard
Macao · 2026
Macao
Access to many global services remains available. National-security controls, concentrated media, self-censorship, surveillance powers, and weak political remedies substantially limit online freedom.
Assessment windowJanuary 1–December 31, 2025
Research cutoffJuly 17, 2026
FrameworkMethodology v0.3 · 20 indicators
Territory coverageMacao Special Administrative Region
Finding
01Why Macao received this score.
Access to many global services remains available. National-security controls, concentrated media, self-censorship, surveillance powers, and weak political remedies substantially limit online freedom.
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]
Privacy, Anonymity & User Security
Broad surveillance powers and limited independent authorization weaken privacy and anonymity.
Free Expression & Civic Space
Independent political expression and civic organizing face systematic state repression.
Standard coverage
11 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
Political sites and platforms face broad or recurring blocks, and independent review is weak.
25.07.5 / 30 points
B1Shutdowns and throttling1.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Macao remains outside the mainland's full technical filtering system, but national-security enforcement and concentrated media ownership create substantial content pressure and self-censorship.; OONI measurements and the Access Now shutdown record provide the incident check. [2][3][4][9][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's B1 evidence supports 1.0/4. The right is severely restricted and effective safeguards are weak.
B2Website and service blocking1.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Macao remains outside the mainland's full technical filtering system, but national-security enforcement and concentrated media ownership create substantial content pressure and self-censorship.; the country OONI dashboard supplies direct network measurements. [3][1][9][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's B2 evidence supports 1.0/4. The right is severely restricted and effective safeguards are weak.
B3Removal and filtering orders1.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Macao remains outside the mainland's full technical filtering system, but national-security enforcement and concentrated media ownership create substantial content pressure and self-censorship.. [2][1][9][11][3]
Scoring judgment
Macao's B3 evidence supports 1.0/4. The right is severely restricted and effective safeguards are weak.
B4Intermediary liability1.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Macao remains outside the mainland's full technical filtering system, but national-security enforcement and concentrated media ownership create substantial content pressure and self-censorship.. [2][1][9][11][3]
Scoring judgment
Macao's B4 evidence supports 1.0/4. The right is severely restricted and effective safeguards are weak.
B5Circumvention and cross-border access1.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Macao remains outside the mainland's full technical filtering system, but national-security enforcement and concentrated media ownership create substantial content pressure and self-censorship.; OONI and Freedom House records provide the circumvention check. [3][1][9][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's B5 evidence supports 1.0/4. The right is severely restricted and effective safeguards are weak.
C
30% weight
Free Expression & Civic Space
Independent political expression and civic organizing face systematic state repression.
0.00.0 / 30 points
C1Legal protection for expression0.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: The Basic Law formally protects expression, while the broadened national-security framework and a noncompetitive political environment materially narrow protected criticism and organizing.. [1][7][9][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's C1 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
C2Speech-related offenses0.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: The Basic Law formally protects expression, while the broadened national-security framework and a noncompetitive political environment materially narrow protected criticism and organizing.; Freedom House country reporting supplies the offense and enforcement record. [2][1][9][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's C2 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
C3Arrests and penalties0.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: The Basic Law formally protects expression, while the broadened national-security framework and a noncompetitive political environment materially narrow protected criticism and organizing.; CPJ and Freedom House records provide the documented case check. [2][5][1][9][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's C3 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
C4Harassment, violence, and digital attacks0.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: The Basic Law formally protects expression, while the broadened national-security framework and a noncompetitive political environment materially narrow protected criticism and organizing.; CPJ and Freedom House reporting provide the violence, harassment, and accountability record. [5][8][1][9][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's C4 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
C5Civic participation and pluralism0.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: The Basic Law formally protects expression, while the broadened national-security framework and a noncompetitive political environment materially narrow protected criticism and organizing.. [2][1][9][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's C5 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
D
20% weight
Privacy, Anonymity & User Security
Broad surveillance powers and limited independent authorization weaken privacy and anonymity.
50.010.0 / 20 points
D1Data protection rights2.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Law No. 8/2005 provides access, correction, objection, and compensation rights, but the Personal Data Protection Bureau operates under the Chief Executive and national-security powers remain broad.. [6][1][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's D1 evidence supports 2.0/4. Restrictions are recurrent and safeguards are only partly effective.
D2Surveillance law and authorization2.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Law No. 8/2005 provides access, correction, objection, and compensation rights, but the Personal Data Protection Bureau operates under the Chief Executive and national-security powers remain broad.. [1][7][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's D2 evidence supports 2.0/4. Restrictions are recurrent and safeguards are only partly effective.
D3Retention, access, and identity mandates2.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Law No. 8/2005 provides access, correction, objection, and compensation rights, but the Personal Data Protection Bureau operates under the Chief Executive and national-security powers remain broad.; UNCTAD and Freedom House records provide the retention and identity-law check. [1][6][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's D3 evidence supports 2.0/4. Restrictions are recurrent and safeguards are only partly effective.
D4Targeted surveillance and spyware2.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Law No. 8/2005 provides access, correction, objection, and compensation rights, but the Personal Data Protection Bureau operates under the Chief Executive and national-security powers remain broad.; CPJ and Freedom House reporting provide the targeted-surveillance case record. [5][1][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's D4 evidence supports 2.0/4. Restrictions are recurrent and safeguards are only partly effective.
D5Encryption and anonymity2.0 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Law No. 8/2005 provides access, correction, objection, and compensation rights, but the Personal Data Protection Bureau operates under the Chief Executive and national-security powers remain broad.; OONI and Freedom House records provide the encryption and anonymity check. [3][1][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's D5 evidence supports 2.0/4. Restrictions are recurrent and safeguards are only partly effective.
E
20% weight
Rule of Law & Accountability
Oversight and remedies are weak, selective, or difficult to use against state digital powers.
37.57.5 / 20 points
E1Judicial independence and due process1.5 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Courts and the data bureau provide formal procedures, but political screening, national-security institutions, and limited regulator independence weaken effective review.. [7][1][9][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's E1 evidence supports 1.5/4. Restrictions are widespread, although limited protection remains.
E2Independent regulators1.5 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Courts and the data bureau provide formal procedures, but political screening, national-security institutions, and limited regulator independence weaken effective review.. [7][1][9][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's E2 evidence supports 1.5/4. Restrictions are widespread, although limited protection remains.
E3Government transparency1.5 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Courts and the data bureau provide formal procedures, but political screening, national-security institutions, and limited regulator independence weaken effective review.. [7][1][9][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's E3 evidence supports 1.5/4. Restrictions are widespread, although limited protection remains.
E4Notice, appeal, and remedy1.5 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Courts and the data bureau provide formal procedures, but political screening, national-security institutions, and limited regulator independence weaken effective review.. [7][1][9][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's E4 evidence supports 1.5/4. Restrictions are widespread, although limited protection remains.
E5Open and multistakeholder policymaking1.5 / 4
Observed record
Macao: Courts and the data bureau provide formal procedures, but political screening, national-security institutions, and limited regulator independence weaken effective review.. [2][1][9][10][11]
Scoring judgment
Macao's E5 evidence supports 1.5/4. Restrictions are widespread, although limited protection remains.
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
Political sites and platforms face broad or recurring blocks, and independent review is weak.
[2][3][4]Free Expression & Civic Space
Independent political expression and civic organizing face systematic state repression.
[2][5][8]Privacy, Anonymity & User Security
Broad surveillance powers and limited independent authorization weaken privacy and anonymity.
[6][1]Rule of Law & Accountability
Oversight and remedies are weak, selective, or difficult to use against state digital powers.
[7][1]Research record
04Coverage
Macao Special Administrative Region, 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 InterferenceMacao 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
- 09U.S. Department of StateChina (Includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau): Macau human rights report excerpt ↗Official data · Archived country report
- 10Macao Personal Data Protection BureauPersonal Data Protection Act and Data-Subject Rights ↗Official data · Accessed July 22, 2026
- 11Macao SAR GovernmentAmendments to the Law on Safeguarding National Security ↗Law and court record · May 18, 2023