US falls below Ukraine in press freedom as global autocracy takes hold
Summary
Ars Technica reports on the 2026 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, which shows the United States dropping to 64th place and the global trend toward decreased press freedom. The piece highlights criticism of President Trump’s influence on media institutions and cites regional performance, including strong Nordic rankings and alarming repression in Asia, especially China. It ends with a call for supporting independent journalism to safeguard information access.