Media Freedom Poll

New data reveals shifting public attitudes toward media freedom in Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary

Watch the recording from the press conference and panel debate on Media Freedom Poll 2025
HERE
0 want social media platforms to act on hate speech and cyberbullying, poll shows

The findings challenge the idea that regulating social media is “censorship” — showing strong support for action to protect media freedom and democratic debate

 

Media Freedom Poll 2025 shows strong public support for transparent, effective regulation of social media to protect freedom of expression and democratic integrity. The fourth edition of the poll demonstrates overwhelming public backing for accountability measures against social media platforms, particularly in response to hate speech, cyberbullying, disinformation, and harmful content.

Central Europeans aren't rejecting free speech - they want safeguards to ensure it remains free. Today's digital landscape requires protections against manipulation by algorithms, extremism, and profit-driven disinformation. Citizens increasingly view EU intervention not as overreach, but as essential democratic protection.
Tessa Szyszkowitz
Chair of the Committee for Editorial Independence

Almost 90% of people across the region demand platforms act decisively against hate speech, cyberbullying, and content promoting self-harm. 67% support actions against the spreading of disinformation. 66% believe that digital platforms should give preference to trustworthy sources of information. 61% agree that digital platforms should be transparent about their decisions regarding promotion or suppression of content. The most preferred intervention is the removal of harmful content, followed by reducing its visibility and adding contextual labels - reflecting strong support for clear, decisive action.

Concerns about media freedom

56%
Czech Republic
65%
Slovakia
55%
Poland
61%
Hungary
Concerned
Not concerned
Neither concerned nor not concerned

Compared to 2024, concerns about media freedom have grown in Czechia, and Poland.

47%
51%
51%
56%
Czech Republic
49%
62%
65%
65%
Slovakia
63%
71%
53%
55%
Poland
48%
56%
62%
61%
Hungary
2022
2023
2024
2025

Support for action against deceitful or manipulated content

 

Share of people who strongly agree or rather agree that social media platforms should take action against:

  • content designed to deceive readers by impersonating legitimate news sources
  • disinformation campaigns that use AI-generated or automated content to manipulate public opinion
  • misleading narratives spread by foreign state-backed actors or organised networks

 

Czech Republic

80%

Content designed to deceive readers by impersonating legitimate news sources

76%

Disinformation campaigns that use AI-generated or automated content to manipulate public opinion

72%

Misleading narratives spread by foreign state-backed actors or organised networks

Slovakia

77%

Content designed to deceive readers by impersonating legitimate news sources

76%

Disinformation campaigns that use AI-generated or automated content to manipulate public opinion

72%

Misleading narratives spread by foreign state-backed actors or organised networks

Poland

76%

Content designed to deceive readers by impersonating legitimate news sources

74%

Disinformation campaigns that use AI-generated or automated content to manipulate public opinion

76%

Misleading narratives spread by foreign state-backed actors or organised networks

Hungary

70%

Content designed to deceive readers by impersonating legitimate news sources

68%

Disinformation campaigns that use AI-generated or automated content to manipulate public opinion

66%

Misleading narratives spread by foreign state-backed actors or organised networks

The press conference revealing the findings of Media Freedom Poll 2025 took place in Bratislava on 12th May 2025. A brief poll presentation was followed by a panel discussion featuring Tessa Szyszkowitz (Committee for Editorial Independence), Václav Štětka (Loughborough University), Pavol Szalai & Alexander Dworzak (Reporters Without Borders), Beáta Balogová (SME), Veronika Munk (Denník N), Márton Gergely (HVG), Michał Olszewski (Gazeta Wyborcza), Martin Ehl (Hospodářské noviny), Alexandra Borchardt (media researcher) and Misha Glenny (Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna).

About the survey

Media Freedom Poll is the most comprehensive annual barometer of public attitudes towards media freedom in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. This year's poll marks the fourth consecutive year of data collection, allowing for an in-depth analysis of trends and shifts in public opinion.

All the four years of the survey were conducted by MEDIAN on behalf of the Committee for Editorial Independence, with the support of the Bakala Foundation, surveying over 4,000 respondents aged 18 and above across the V4 countries each year. The findings of the Media Freedom Poll 2025 were presented at a press conference with a panel debate that took place in Bratislava on 12th May 2025.

Poll's results

Presentation of the outcomes from Media Freedom Poll 2025
(PDF, English)
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Press release

Central Europeans reject US narrative on free speech, poll shows
(PDF, English)
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Průzkum ukazuje, že Středoevropané odmítají americký narativ o svobodě projevu
(PDF, Czech)
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Stredoeurópania odmietajú americký naratív o slobode prejavu, ukazuje prieskum
(PDF, Slovak)
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Jak wynika z sondażu, mieszkańcy Europy Środkowej odrzucają amerykańską narrację dotyczącą wolności słowa
(PDF, Polish)
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A közép-európaiak elutasítják a szólásszabadság amerikai narratíváját, derül ki egy felmérésből
(PDF, Hungarian)
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The media freedom survey is an initiative of the Committee for Editorial Independence, supported by the Bakala Foundation. The findings of Media Freedom Poll 2025 are presented in cooperation with SME.