Thailand has been ranked 92nd in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s 2026 World Press Freedom Index, 7 places below its 2025 ranking, and is now rated as “difficult.”

In an unprecedented global action, over 250 media outlets from 50 countries will simultaneously disrupt their front pages, homepages, and broadcasts to demand an end to the killing of journalists in Gaza and to call for international press access to the enclave.

In the Asia-Pacific region, press freedom and access to reliable news sources are severely compromised by the predominance of regimes — often authoritarian — that strictly control information, often through economic means. In many countries, the government has a tight grip on media ownership, allowing them to interfere in outlets’ editorial choices. It is highly telling that twenty of the region’s 32 countries and territories saw their economic indicators drop in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index.

As an increasing number of journalists have been forced into exile due to the brutal crackdown on press freedom by the military junta in Myanmar, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is launching a project in Thailand aimed at supporting these media professionals in exile, as well as those who continue to work inside the country.

A representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has been detained for six hours and deported on arrival from Hong Kong to monitor the trial of publisher Jimmy Lai, who is currently facing possible life imprisonment for "endangering national security," and meet with local journalists. RSF noted that this action by the Hong Kong authorities is unprecedented for its representatives and marks a new decline in press freedom in Hong Kong.

After the body of jailed Myanmar journalist Myat Thu Tun was found buried, reportedly marked with gunshot wounds and signs of torture, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the international community to take action to force the Myanmar junta to cease its "campaign of terror" against reporters and release detained journalists and press freedom defenders.  

Following the arrest of Nutthaphol Meksobhon, a Prachatai reporter, and photographer Natthaphon Phanphongsanon, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) issued a statement calling for the Thai authorities to drop the charges against them and to end harassment of journalists.

Three years after its coup, the Myanmar junta is stepping up its ruthless crackdown on journalists. The army has summarily killed four journalists, and more than 150 media professionals have been locked up. Reporters are facing increasingly harsh prison sentences. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the international community to step up the pressure on the military regime to secure their release.

<p>Thailand has been ranked 137th in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)&rsquo;s <a href="https://rsf.org/en/2021-world-press-freedom-index-journalism-vaccine-against-disinformation-blocked-more-130-countries">2021 World Press Freedom Index</a>, three places above its <a href="https://rsf.org/en/2020-world-press-freedom-index-entering-decisive-decade-journalism-exacerbated-coronavirus">2020 ranking</a> at 140th, while the Covid-19 pandemic has been used to obstruct press freedom in many countries</p>

<p>Reporters Without Borders and Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concerns over the threats journalists met from the authorities amidst the soaring crackdown in Myanmar. They demand the Myanmar government to release them unconditionally and to drop the charges against them.</p>

<p>387 journalists worldwide are currently detained in connection their work, while 54 are held hostage and 4 are missing, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF)&rsquo;s <a href="https://rsf.org/en/news/rsfs-2020-round-35-rise-number-women-journalists-held-arbitrarily?fbclid=IwAR3DA3pSiOX-qwElarOdMww3170CN_eUxkucb-8hmCCYyW8cPeh2OymKaW0">2020 round-up report</a> on abusive treatment of journalists.</p>

<p>The global press freedom groups and civil society organizations collective #HoldTheLine Coalition calls for the new criminal cyber libel charge against Filipino-American editor and journalist Maria Ressa to be dropped.&nbsp;</p>