Status: Not Free
Legal Environment: 26
Political Influences: 34
Economic Pressures: 22
Total Score: 82
Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 52
Religious Groups: n/a
Ethnic Groups: Lao Loum (68 percent), Lao Theung (22 percent), Lao Soung [includes Hmong and Yao] (9 percent), Vietnamese and Chinese (1 percent)
Capital: Vientiane
Criminalizing "misleading news" on the Internet was only the latest draconian effort by the government to restrict all news and information available to Laotians. The government owns all newspapers and broadcast media and tightly controls their content. In June, authorities announced they would introduce a new law requiring journalists to slant their coverage to favor the government. Rules already in effect subject journalists to 5 to 15 years in prison for not filing "constructive reports" or for "attempting" to obstruct the regime.
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