This report focuses on public opinion of free speech, freedom of the press and freedom on the internet in 35 countries across the world, including Australia. Views of the importance of these various freedoms are examined in the context of long-term trend data. The report also explores people’s perceptions of how free they are to express themselves and use the Internet without restrictions and how free the media are to report the news, as well as people’s concerns about the spread of misinformation in their country.   

Results show there is a disconnect between how people rate the importance of these freedoms and how free they actually feel to express themselves. A so-called 'freedom gap' – where the share of people who value free speech is larger than the share who believe they have it – appears in 31 of the 35 countries surveyed. Majorities in over half the nations surveyed also say made-up news and information is a very big problem in their country. Australia does relatively well on this measure, with only 36% of respondents agreeing with the statement. 

In many of the countries surveyed, those who express the most concern over made-up news and information are less likely to say they are satisfied with the state of their nation’s democracy.