Cyberattacks Target Exiled Media as Censorship Tool

Authoritarian governments are increasingly using cyberattacks, particularly DDoS attacks, as a means of censorship against exiled media outlets. A report from Cloudflare indicates that exiled journalists face malicious web activity at four times the rate of other media organizations. Between February 2025 and January 2026, about 5% of requests to exile journalism websites were harmful, disrupting their connections to readers. Specific incidents include a DDoS attack on the Cuban outlet elToque in December 2025, linked to its reporting on the economy, and a similar attack on the Moscow Times in July 2025. These attacks not only render websites inaccessible but also erode the credibility of the affected outlets and lead to self-censorship. The attacks are a part of a broader trend of digital transnational repression, with implications for press freedom globally.

Key Points: • DDoS attacks are increasingly used by authoritarian regimes to censor exiled media. • Exiled journalists face malicious web activity at a rate four times higher than other media. • Cloudflare's report shows 5% of requests to exile journalism sites were harmful from Feb 2025 to Jan 2026.