New report measures attempts to impose, and evade, internet repression

Pakistan and Senegal cut public access to the internet in moves clearly meant to crack down on political debate.

Pakistan severed connections to limit information coinciding with a general election of questionable credibility.

Senegal appears on a list compiled by Techopedia of places where internet searches on virtual private networks (VPNs) are soaring.

AI-driven surveillance and censorship may well drive the creation of new technologies intended to shield people's identities and protect individual freedom.

VPNs are a technological innovation crafted to thwart surveillance and restrictions.

At least 21 countries mandate or incentivize digital platforms to deploy machine learning to remove disfavored speech.