The press watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), has issued a report entitled "Enemies of the internet" in which it examines online censorship and other threats to free expression.
It names the 12 enemies as Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, arguing that the "dirty dozen" have all transformed their internet into an intranet.
"All these countries distinguish themselves not only by their ability to censor online news and information but also by their virtually systematic persecution of troublesome internet users," said RSF, a Paris-based organisation
A total of 70 cyber-dissidents are currently detained because of what they posted online. China is the world's biggest prison for cyber-dissidents, followed by Vietnam and Iran.
