Citizens of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia oppose the Trump administration’s narratives about free speech as allegedly not requiring the regulation of social media, with nearly 90% demanding that online platforms act against hate speech, cyberbullying and content promoting self-harm.

“Central Europeans aren’t rejecting free speech – they want safeguards to ensure it remains free,” Tessa Szyszkowitz, Chair of the Committee for Editorial Independence, commented on the 2025 Media Freedom Poll findings unveiled earlier this week in the Slovak capital, Bratislava.  

“Today’s digital landscape requires protections against manipulation by algorithms and profit-driven disinformation. Citizens increasingly view EU intervention not as overreach, but as essential democratic protection,” Szyszkowitz added.

Other findings of the Media Freedom Poll show that 67% support actions against the spreading of disinformation, while 66% believe that digital platforms should give preference to trustworthy sources of information, and 61% agree that digital platforms should be transparent about their decisions regarding promotion or suppression of content.

The Media Freedom Poll also shows that Slovaks remain the most concerned nation about media freedom, while concerns are on the rise in Czechia as well as in Poland.

In 2025, 65% of Slovaks are concerned about media freedom in their country, the same figure as in 2024 when the left-right cabinet of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico pushed ahead with the restructuring of the public broadcaster amid international outcry and country-wide demonstrations.  

In Czechia, 56% are concerned about media freedom, up from 51% in 2024, while in Poland the figure rose to 55%, up from 53%. In Hungary, the figure dropped slightly to 61%, down from 62% in 2024.

The annual Media Freedom Poll is conducted by Median on behalf of the Committee for Editorial Independence, and surveys over 4,000 respondents aged 18 and above each year across the four Central European countries. It is supported by the Bakala Foundation.

Leading journalists and media analysts covering the region participated in the unveiling of the survey in Bratislava, including Pavol Szalai of Reporters Without Borders and Misha Glenny of the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna.