Free and Open
This is the weighted total of the four scored pillars.
Country assessmentResearch confidence: High · Evidence coverage: Full
San Marino · 2026
San Marino
Open access, plural expression, and independent institutions support a top-tier result, with privacy enforcement and the limits of a small regulatory system accounting for deductions.
Assessment windowJanuary 1–December 31, 2025
Research cutoffJuly 17, 2026
FrameworkMethodology v0.3 · 20 indicators
Territory coverageRepublic of San Marino
Finding
01Why San Marino received this score.
Open access, plural expression, and independent institutions support a top-tier result, with privacy enforcement and the limits of a small regulatory system accounting for deductions.
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]
Rule of Law & Accountability
Independent courts, regulators, and public procedures provide meaningful checks and remedies.
Privacy, Anonymity & User Security
Privacy law provides meaningful rights, but exemptions, enforcement gaps, or intelligence powers remain material.
Full 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
San Marino: The reviewed U.S. and Freedom House records did not identify political internet shutdowns or systematic filtering in San Marino.; OONI measurements and the Access Now shutdown record provide the incident check. [2][3][4][9][1]
Scoring judgment
San Marino'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
San Marino: The reviewed U.S. and Freedom House records did not identify political internet shutdowns or systematic filtering in San Marino.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 3/4 and private discussion 4/4; the country OONI dashboard supplies direct network measurements. [3][1][9]
Scoring judgment
San Marino'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
San Marino: The reviewed U.S. and Freedom House records did not identify political internet shutdowns or systematic filtering in San Marino.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 3/4 and private discussion 4/4. [2][1][9][3]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's B3 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
B4Intermediary liability3.5 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: The reviewed U.S. and Freedom House records did not identify political internet shutdowns or systematic filtering in San Marino.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 3/4. [2][1][9][3]
Scoring judgment
San Marino'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
San Marino: The reviewed U.S. and Freedom House records did not identify political internet shutdowns or systematic filtering in San Marino.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 3/4 and private discussion 4/4; OONI and Freedom House records provide the circumvention check. [3][1][9]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's B5 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
C
30% weight
Free Expression & Civic Space
Online political debate is broad and legal protections generally remain effective.
92.527.8 / 30 points
C1Legal protection for expression3.5 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Constitutional institutions support plural expression and association, with no documented pattern of imprisonment or violence for online political speech.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 3/4 and private discussion 4/4; the relevant Freedom House country score 97/100. [1][7][9]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's C1 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
C2Speech-related offenses3.5 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Constitutional institutions support plural expression and association, with no documented pattern of imprisonment or violence for online political speech.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 3/4 and due process 4/4; Freedom House country reporting supplies the offense and enforcement record. [2][1][9]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's C2 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
C3Arrests and penalties4.0 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Constitutional institutions support plural expression and association, with no documented pattern of imprisonment or violence for online political speech.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded due process 4/4 and equal treatment under law 4/4; CPJ and Freedom House records provide the documented case check. [2][5][1][9]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's C3 evidence supports 4.0/4. The record matches the strongest published anchor.
C4Harassment, violence, and digital attacks3.5 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Constitutional institutions support plural expression and association, with no documented pattern of imprisonment or violence for online political speech.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 3/4 and equal treatment under law 4/4; CPJ and Freedom House reporting provide the violence, harassment, and accountability record. [5][8][1][9]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's C4 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
C5Civic participation and pluralism4.0 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Constitutional institutions support plural expression and association, with no documented pattern of imprisonment or violence for online political speech.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded political choice free from domination 4/4 and assembly freedom 4/4. [2][1][9]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's C5 evidence supports 4.0/4. The record matches the strongest published anchor.
D
20% weight
Privacy, Anonymity & User Security
Privacy law provides meaningful rights, but exemptions, enforcement gaps, or intelligence powers remain material.
85.017.0 / 20 points
D1Data protection rights3.0 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Law No. 171 provides access, correction, deletion, objection, and security rights, and gives the Data Protection Authority investigative and corrective powers.. [6][1][10]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's D1 evidence supports 3.0/4. Protection is generally effective, with recurring but bounded shortcomings.
D2Surveillance law and authorization3.5 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Law No. 171 provides access, correction, deletion, objection, and security rights, and gives the Data Protection Authority investigative and corrective powers.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded judicial independence 4/4 and due process 4/4. [1][7][10][6]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's D2 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
D3Retention, access, and identity mandates3.5 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Law No. 171 provides access, correction, deletion, objection, and security rights, and gives the Data Protection Authority investigative and corrective powers.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded private discussion 4/4 and due process 4/4; UNCTAD and Freedom House records provide the retention and identity-law check. [1][6][10]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's D3 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
D4Targeted surveillance and spyware3.5 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Law No. 171 provides access, correction, deletion, objection, and security rights, and gives the Data Protection Authority investigative and corrective powers.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 3/4 and equal treatment under law 4/4; CPJ and Freedom House reporting provide the targeted-surveillance case record. [5][1][10][6]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's D4 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
D5Encryption and anonymity3.5 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Law No. 171 provides access, correction, deletion, objection, and security rights, and gives the Data Protection Authority investigative and corrective powers.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded private discussion 4/4; OONI and Freedom House records provide the encryption and anonymity check. [3][1][10][6]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's D5 evidence supports 3.5/4. Protection is strong, with a bounded exception preventing full credit.
E
20% weight
Rule of Law & Accountability
Independent courts, regulators, and public procedures provide meaningful checks and remedies.
100.020.0 / 20 points
E1Judicial independence and due process4.0 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Independent courts and a legally empowered data regulator provide review, although the small public administration limits specialized enforcement capacity.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded judicial independence 4/4 and due process 4/4. [7][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's E1 evidence supports 4.0/4. The record matches the strongest published anchor.
E2Independent regulators4.0 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Independent courts and a legally empowered data regulator provide review, although the small public administration limits specialized enforcement capacity.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded government safeguards against corruption 4/4 and government openness and transparency 4/4. [7][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's E2 evidence supports 4.0/4. The record matches the strongest published anchor.
E3Government transparency4.0 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Independent courts and a legally empowered data regulator provide review, although the small public administration limits specialized enforcement capacity.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded government openness and transparency 4/4. [7][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's E3 evidence supports 4.0/4. The record matches the strongest published anchor.
E4Notice, appeal, and remedy4.0 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Independent courts and a legally empowered data regulator provide review, although the small public administration limits specialized enforcement capacity.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded judicial independence 4/4 and due process 4/4. [7][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's E4 evidence supports 4.0/4. The record matches the strongest published anchor.
E5Open and multistakeholder policymaking4.0 / 4
Observed record
San Marino: Independent courts and a legally empowered data regulator provide review, although the small public administration limits specialized enforcement capacity.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded elected officials' authority 4/4 and assembly freedom 4/4. [2][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
San Marino's E5 evidence supports 4.0/4. The record matches the strongest published anchor.
Country 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
Online political debate is broad and legal protections generally remain effective.
[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
Independent courts, regulators, and public procedures provide meaningful checks and remedies.
[7][1]Research record
04Coverage
Republic of San Marino, 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 HouseSan Marino: Freedom in the World 2025 country report ↗Civil society · 2025 edition
- 02Digital Society ProjectDigital Society Project Dataset v8 ↗Independent measurement · 2000–2025 country-year data
- 03Open Observatory of Network InterferenceSan Marino 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 StateSan Marino: 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices ↗Official data · April 22, 2024
- 10San Marino Data Protection AuthorityLaw No. 171 of December 21, 2018 and the Authority's Powers ↗Official data · Accessed July 22, 2026