Richard A wrote:Arneb, I see that Austria similarly ranks "satisfactory" for press freedom. Which makes me suggest that what pulls the score down is that in Germany, you can go to jail for publishing a statement that denies that the Holocaust happened (or, as a variant, says it was invented as Soviet propaganda).
This is the thought that occurred to me.
I will try again later to see whether that is the actual reason.
Whether this particular restriction on press freedom is a good idea or not is a whole other issue - even if you feel it is a good idea, it remains a restriction on press freedom, does it not?
The US ought to score well based on that issue. If you want to walk down the street wearing a Nazi uniform and expounding to any passers by your belief that Jews are inferior and should be exterminated, this is protected speech in the US. I think any points off the US has taken are probably related to the use of the Espionage Act and other “national security” measures.