With over 120 million people, Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa and one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Strategically located in the horn of Africa, it carries the huge geopolitical significance.
Nevertheless, despite its rich history, Ethiopia is one of the most oppressive atmosphere for press freedom today. The government continues independent journalism through censorship, harassment and arbitrary detention.
According to the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, Ethiopia is ranked without any limit 141st out of 180 countries for media independenceFor the safety of journalists, the committee further confirms that Ethiopia is One of the top jailers of sub-Sahara African journalistsTill December 1, 2024, holding six journalists in jail, it ranks second for Eritrea in the region.
Since the outbreak of the government-led struggle in the Amhara region in 2023, the unrest in all parts of the country has faced the dangers and imprisonment to report the truth only. In August 2023, the Ethiopian government announced the status of Amhra region and beyond. It has been done Amnesty International criticized for the pretext of powerful controlThe committee has misused the anti -terrorism laws for the protection of journalists and prevented it for a long time in informal facilities.
Among the unjustly detained people are Meskerem Abera, founder of Ethio Nikat Media. Amnesty International It is said that allegations against him appear politically motivated as part of the widespread rift on the government’s important journalists.
Equally symbol is a case of Dereje Habetwold, an experienced journalist sentenced to imprisonment in exile by the former. Ethiopian people revolutionary democratic front ruleIn exile, he continued to report through the Ethiopian satellite network TV, a Youtube-based outlet that serves the diaspora.
But YouTube – in Google’s ownership – rapidly reducing that mission.
According to a recent Ethiopian satellite network TV statement, Maede Zenachannel (where Habtewold serves as the chief reporter) On July 21, 2025, arbitrarily abolishedAfter the main YouTube channel of Ethiopian satellite network TV on 30 July 2025. YouTube issued only unclear references for violations of “community standards”, no transparency or meaningful support.
Other independent Ethiopian media outlets – such as Zvdu Show, Athio 360 and 14 channels which are associated with Amhara Media Council including Merza TV, Athio 251 Media, Gione TV Multimedia, have also been removed from YouTube without warning or justification. These outlets, with many thousands or millions of customers, Has served as a lifeline for independent newsEspecially the freedom of the press deteriorates inside Ethiopia.
Even American journalists are flowing in this wave of silenting. Gully, Hello Ethiopia founder, has blocked his YouTube channel for more than eight months. YouTube has provided the same non-compliance for the rationale of community standards to block its channel.
Before YouTube CEO Neil Mohan’s 2022 testimony, the US Congress included a powerful statement: “YouTube mission is to give voice to everyone and show them the world“This mission is commendable, but it should be retained continuously. Mohan underlines Since then. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Government Affairs.
When the principles of fairness and transparency are implemented unevenly, it eradicates the reliability of YouTube and enables the global story to shape without a challenge to the ruling rule.
YouTube plays an important role in extinguishing and raising the voices of independent journalists, especially those who report on the crises ignored by state-control or mainstream outlets. Nevertheless, its opaque and appears to have threatened that role from biased moderation practices.
By targeting the content of Abi Ahmed regime, Especially the Amhara region, violations of human rights, imprisonment of civilians and opposition party leaders, systemic corruption, religious harassment and erosion of law – reporting on war to get involved in getting entangled in suppressing YouTube risk. These actions contribute to an information vacuum, accept dictatorism and weaken democratic values, which claim to maintain the stage.
This is not just the problem of an Ethiopian migrant journalist. As artificial intelligence and algorithms rapidly control what materials are visible – and what is silent – the untreated power of technical platforms threatens the global press freedom.
Congress should take concrete steps to take this measure.
- Conduct public hearing on material moderation, to tell technical authorities how and why journalism materials – especially from politically sensitive areas – are being removed.
- YouTube and Google demand transparency about their moderation policies, enforcement data and algorithm bias that can affect dissatisfied voices.
- Introduce the law to establish clear standards and oversight how technical platforms manage news and political speech globally.
- Pass resolutions confirmed US support for press freedom and pressurized governments to work with international organizations – such as Ethiopia – to prevent harassment of journalists.
- Invest in independent journalism including training, digital security and equipment to help reporters to help navigate the censorship and algorithm Daman.
Failure to act is now at risk of normalizing dangerous examples that global technical platforms can silence journalists without accountability, while ruling governments make them happy. When those who tell the truth are digitally erased and the propaganda prevails, the foundation of democracy itself starts to crack.
Mesphin is the executive chairman of TegenuAmerican Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee,
