Freedom House: Serbian authorities suppressed digitally-organized protests

Serbian authorities harshly suppressed student-led anti-government protests, many of which were organized using digital tools, Freedom House said in its Freedom on the Net 2026 report published on Thursday. The report refers to the demonstrations that erupted after the collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, killing 16 people. The protests developed into a nationwide movement demanding accountability and action against corruption. Freedom House said internet freedom declined globally for the 16th consecutive year, as authoritarian governments expanded restrictions on online access and expression. The report also highlighted the growing use of laws governing artificial intelligence-generated content to restrict freedom of expression.