Thai press freedom on the slide

Thailand fell seven places to rank 92nd in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, as Southeast Asian nations largely struggled against a tide of legal harassment and systemic censorship.

While Thailand remains second among the 11 ASEAN members, trailing only Timor-Leste (30th), its status has been downgraded to “difficult” by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Across ASEAN, media freedom remains precarious, with Malaysia (95th), the Philippines (114th), and Singapore (123rd) among nations where journalists face frequent “lawfare” and criminalization.

The annual report, released ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, paints a sobering picture of a global crisis.

For the first time in the index’s 25-year history, more than half of the 180 countries surveyed are categorized as having “difficult” or “very serious” environments for journalism.

RSF warns that the proportion of the global population living in countries with a “good” press freedom rating has plummeted from 20% in 2002 to less than 1% today.

Within ASEAN, the rankings highlight a sharp divide:

• Timor-Leste: 30th (regional leader)

• Thailand: 92nd (down 7 places)

• Malaysia: 95th

• Philippines: 114th

• Singapore: 123rd

• Indonesia: 129th

• Cambodia: 151st

• Laos: 154th

• Myanmar: 166th

• Vietnam: 174th