Closed
This is the weighted total of the four scored pillars.
Jurisdiction assessmentResearch confidence: Low · Evidence coverage: Standard
Western Sahara · 2026
Western Sahara
Restrictions on reporting, punishment of Sahrawi expression, surveillance, blocked access for independent observers, and the absence of dependable remedies produce a closed information environment.
Assessment windowJanuary 1–December 31, 2025
Research cutoffJuly 17, 2026
FrameworkMethodology v0.3 · 20 indicators
Territory coverageWestern Sahara
Finding
01Why Western Sahara received this score.
Restrictions on reporting, punishment of Sahrawi expression, surveillance, blocked access for independent observers, and the absence of dependable remedies produce a closed information environment.
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]
Privacy, Anonymity & User Security
Broad surveillance powers and limited independent authorization weaken privacy and anonymity.
Rule of Law & Accountability
No dependable independent remedy constrains political censorship or surveillance in practice.
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
Political sites and platforms face broad or recurring blocks, and independent review is weak.
22.56.8 / 30 points
B1Shutdowns and throttling1.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Access to major services remains possible, but reporting on territorial status is subject to removal pressure, self-censorship, and restrictions on independent newsgathering.; OONI measurements and the Access Now shutdown record provide the incident check. [2][3][4][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara'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
Western Sahara: Access to major services remains possible, but reporting on territorial status is subject to removal pressure, self-censorship, and restrictions on independent newsgathering.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 0/4 and private discussion 1/4; the country OONI dashboard supplies direct network measurements. [3][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara'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
Western Sahara: Access to major services remains possible, but reporting on territorial status is subject to removal pressure, self-censorship, and restrictions on independent newsgathering.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 0/4 and private discussion 1/4. [2][1][9][10][3]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's B3 evidence supports 1.0/4. The right is severely restricted and effective safeguards are weak.
B4Intermediary liability0.5 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Access to major services remains possible, but reporting on territorial status is subject to removal pressure, self-censorship, and restrictions on independent newsgathering.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 0/4. [2][1][9][10][3]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's B4 evidence supports 0.5/4. Only narrow residual protection remains.
B5Circumvention and cross-border access1.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Access to major services remains possible, but reporting on territorial status is subject to removal pressure, self-censorship, and restrictions on independent newsgathering.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 0/4 and private discussion 1/4; OONI and Freedom House records provide the circumvention check. [3][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara'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.
2.50.8 / 30 points
C1Legal protection for expression0.5 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Sahrawi journalists and activists face criminal exposure, harassment, and restrictions for challenging Morocco's territorial position; independent media access remains severely limited.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 0/4 and private discussion 1/4; the relevant Freedom House country score 4/100. [1][7][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's C1 evidence supports 0.5/4. Only narrow residual protection remains.
C2Speech-related offenses0.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Sahrawi journalists and activists face criminal exposure, harassment, and restrictions for challenging Morocco's territorial position; independent media access remains severely limited.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 0/4 and due process 0/4; Freedom House country reporting supplies the offense and enforcement record. [2][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's C2 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
C3Arrests and penalties0.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Sahrawi journalists and activists face criminal exposure, harassment, and restrictions for challenging Morocco's territorial position; independent media access remains severely limited.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded due process 0/4 and equal treatment under law 0/4; CPJ and Freedom House records provide the documented case check. [2][5][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's C3 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
C4Harassment, violence, and digital attacks0.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Sahrawi journalists and activists face criminal exposure, harassment, and restrictions for challenging Morocco's territorial position; independent media access remains severely limited.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 0/4 and equal treatment under law 0/4; CPJ and Freedom House reporting provide the violence, harassment, and accountability record. [5][8][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's C4 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
C5Civic participation and pluralism0.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Sahrawi journalists and activists face criminal exposure, harassment, and restrictions for challenging Morocco's territorial position; independent media access remains severely limited.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded political choice free from domination 0/4 and assembly freedom 0/4. [2][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara'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.
35.07.0 / 20 points
D1Data protection rights2.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Reports of surveillance targeting journalists and human-rights defenders coexist with weak transparency and no dependable independent regional oversight.. [6][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's D1 evidence supports 2.0/4. Restrictions are recurrent and safeguards are only partly effective.
D2Surveillance law and authorization1.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Reports of surveillance targeting journalists and human-rights defenders coexist with weak transparency and no dependable independent regional oversight.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded judicial independence 0/4 and due process 0/4. [1][7][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's D2 evidence supports 1.0/4. The right is severely restricted and effective safeguards are weak.
D3Retention, access, and identity mandates1.5 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Reports of surveillance targeting journalists and human-rights defenders coexist with weak transparency and no dependable independent regional oversight.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded private discussion 1/4 and due process 0/4; UNCTAD and Freedom House records provide the retention and identity-law check. [1][6][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's D3 evidence supports 1.5/4. Restrictions are widespread, although limited protection remains.
D4Targeted surveillance and spyware1.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Reports of surveillance targeting journalists and human-rights defenders coexist with weak transparency and no dependable independent regional oversight.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded media freedom 0/4 and equal treatment under law 0/4; CPJ and Freedom House reporting provide the targeted-surveillance case record. [5][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's D4 evidence supports 1.0/4. The right is severely restricted and effective safeguards are weak.
D5Encryption and anonymity1.5 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Reports of surveillance targeting journalists and human-rights defenders coexist with weak transparency and no dependable independent regional oversight.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded private discussion 1/4; OONI and Freedom House records provide the encryption and anonymity check. [3][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's D5 evidence supports 1.5/4. Restrictions are widespread, although limited protection remains.
E
20% weight
Rule of Law & Accountability
No dependable independent remedy constrains political censorship or surveillance in practice.
0.00.0 / 20 points
E1Judicial independence and due process0.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Moroccan law and institutions govern most of the territory, and affected speakers lack a dependable independent remedy for censorship, surveillance, or exclusion of observers.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded judicial independence 0/4 and due process 0/4. [7][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's E1 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
E2Independent regulators0.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Moroccan law and institutions govern most of the territory, and affected speakers lack a dependable independent remedy for censorship, surveillance, or exclusion of observers.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded government safeguards against corruption 0/4 and government openness and transparency 0/4. [7][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's E2 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
E3Government transparency0.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Moroccan law and institutions govern most of the territory, and affected speakers lack a dependable independent remedy for censorship, surveillance, or exclusion of observers.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded government openness and transparency 0/4. [7][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's E3 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
E4Notice, appeal, and remedy0.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Moroccan law and institutions govern most of the territory, and affected speakers lack a dependable independent remedy for censorship, surveillance, or exclusion of observers.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded judicial independence 0/4 and due process 0/4. [7][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's E4 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
E5Open and multistakeholder policymaking0.0 / 4
Observed record
Western Sahara: Moroccan law and institutions govern most of the territory, and affected speakers lack a dependable independent remedy for censorship, surveillance, or exclusion of observers.; Freedom House's 2025 country scorecard recorded elected officials' authority 0/4 and assembly freedom 0/4. [2][1][9][10]
Scoring judgment
Western Sahara's E5 evidence supports 0.0/4. The record matches the zero-point anchor.
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
No dependable independent remedy constrains political censorship or surveillance in practice.
[7][1]Research record
04Coverage
Western Sahara, 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 HouseWestern Sahara: 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 InterferenceWestern Sahara 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 StateWestern Sahara Country Report on Human Rights Practices ↗Official data · Archived country report
- 10Reporters Without BordersMorocco / Western Sahara: World Press Freedom Index 2026 profile ↗Civil society · May 2026