The United Nations Information Centre in Tokyo introduced the Japanese translation of a joint piece by Maria Gabriel, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, and others, published to mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information on September 28. The president of the World Editors Forum and the head of news at the European Broadcasting Union are among the co-authors.
The piece observes that even in an age of abundant information, people struggle to answer simple questions such as what happened and who decided. It cites a survey recording 313 internet shutdowns in 52 countries in 2025, a record high.
It also says UNESCO's monitoring shows 141 countries legally guarantee access to information, yet implementation challenges remain. Of 146 identical information requests made in 76 countries, 38 percent received no substantive response.
Key points
- 313 internet shutdowns in 52 countries in 2025, a record high
- 141 countries guarantee access to information in law, but challenges remain in practice
- It also stresses the importance of independent journalism
Why this news is worth noting
The right to accurate information underpins development, humanitarian assistance and democratic societies.
With generative AI and recommendation algorithms now part of daily life, the piece offers a perspective on how we engage with information.
Editor's comment
It reminds us that the integrity of the information we encounter every day is never something to take for granted.
The full text is available on the UN Information Centre's website. Please take a look.