9 Most Censored Countries Where Everything Is Banned

Censorship - It's something we don't really think about too much. That's not the case with many countries around the globe. In fact, as the following examples show, some countries go to extreme lengths to limit what their people can see and say.

1. Cuba 

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When it comes to censorship in the Americas, currently no one tops Cuba. Sure it may have some of the nicest beaches in the world, but this country keeps close tabs on its print and television media, In fact, all major media remains firmly controlled by the Cuban government. Internet access is severely limited and even that is heavily monitored and blocked. Journalists are watched and any that report on events or ideas unfavorable to the government are harassed or even detained for moderate periods of time.

2. China 

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If you're a journalist in China who criticizes the government, then you are going to jail. In fact, China ranks in the top three of nations in the world who jail the most journalists. The country is also notorious for controlling and monitoring its citizen's internet use in order to limit the influence of outside values and ideas. Trying to look up information about the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre on the Chinese Internet? Good luck, the government has removed and banned any mention of this event online.

3. Iran

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The top jailer of journalists in the world, Iran has demonstrated time and time again that it will not tolerate any criticism of its leadership or national policies. News and social media sites are either blocked or heavily monitored and the government even goes so far as to jam satellite signals that may be transmitting unwanted information. Things are so restricted by the conservative religious forces in Iran that in 2014 several Iranian men and women were arrested for posting a video where they dance to Pharrell's hit "happy."

4. Vietnam 

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Like many other communist regimes, strict censorship is adhered to in Vietnam. If you're a journalist in Vietnam, your work must first pass through sensors before being published. In fact, all major media outlets are instructed on a weekly basis by the central propaganda department on which topic should be discussed or cut completely. Anti-government and pro-democracy websites are blocked, which really isn't a surprise. However, as one BBC news crew found out recently, even the suspicion that you have met with a known political dissident can result in you being asked to leave the country.

5. Azerbaijan

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If you're a journalist or just a regular person who is critical of the leadership in this small country on the shores of the Caspian Sea, then life is probably pretty difficult. Journalists who don't get in line are sued, threatened, harassed, jailed, or chased from the country. Even making a passing remark deemed unfavorable online can get you 6 months in jail. The state controls all major media outlets and it blocks or tries to jam the signals of those it doesn't control.

6. Ethiopia 

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When it comes to election time in this African country it may seem like
your voting options are limited. That's because the state tends to crack down on independent media outlets and journalists who don't report on the 'right' things. For instance, in 2014, 10 journalists were jailed and many more chase out of the country because they were deemed to be spreading dissent and encouraging terrorism. There are no independent television broadcasters and the state controls the only internet provider, blocking any sites that it feels are dangerous.

7. Saudi Arabia 

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When the Arab spring uprisings occurred in 2011, it clearly terrified the rulers of Saudi Arabia. Their solution? Tighter censorship laws. Journalists or even regular citizens must now be extremely careful not to publish anything that goes against Sharia, the States interests or to be interpreted as promoting dissent or foreign interests. Youtube and Twitter are heavily monitored and any violations there can land you in jail for several years. Worse yet, Saudi Arabia has successfully pressured neighboring states to limit media that criticizes it.

8. North Korea 

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You just knew this secretive state would appear eventually, didn't you? It would be an understatement to say the government of North Korea tightly controls what its people read and report on. Even with some foreign news teams working in the country, the state controls nearly all the content. What internet access that is available is limited to the elites and the rest of the country uses the internet which is obviously prostate. Any outside information not controlled by the state comes in the form of foreign radio and TV broadcasts and black-market cell phones.

9. Eritrea 

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Topping the list of the most censored countries in the world is a small African country most people probably couldn't locate on a map. Nonetheless, the information which comes in and out of this country is beyond tightly controlled. Only state-controlled media is allowed to report in Eritrea and anyone even suspected of being critical of the government is arrested. In addition to having the most jailed journalist in Africa, all online information must pass through a single state-run provider. Even then, it is estimated that only 1% of the population has internet access.

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