The level of Internet freedom is high in the four post-communist countries that comprise the Visegrad Four (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia), but there are big differences in terms of rights of freedom of expression, level of surveillance of online activity by police and intelligence agencies, and on the way the Internet is governed.
The Czech Republic ranks among the four countries as the leader in Internet freedom, scoring 37 out of 50 in contrast to a score of 28 for lowest-placed Hungary. Slovakia ranks second with 33, and Poland third with 30 out of 50, according to peer reviewed research conducted by independent think-tank analysts in the four countries.
The research is based on detailed analysis of the current situation - in law and in practice - using a methodology that examines Internet freedom by looking into four main areas, namely Freedom of Expression, Big Brother (surveillance, regulation, and interference by the state), the Legal Maze (the clarity of the legal framework in letter and practice), and Open Government (transparency and the authorities’ online disclosure of their functioning and decisions, such as budget information and tender contracts).
National report of Slovakia was elaborated by the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO).
Download:
INTERNET FREEDOM REPORT 2014: SLOVAKIA (pdf)
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The analyses were written as part of the project Internet Freedom Report 2014: Visegrad Four, a project of Transitions (TOL) and PASOS (Policy Association for an Open Society). The preparation of the reports was supported by Google. The reports were prepared with full research independenceand the views expressed herein are views of the authors only.
