Global attacks on academic freedom reached 382 incidents between July 2025 and June 2026, according to the latest annual report from the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network.
While this figure represents a slight decline from the 395 attacks recorded in the previous year, the incidents now span 59 countries and territories, up from 49, Nature reported.
The SAR report, titled Free to Think 2026, defines these attacks as violent or fatal assaults, wrongful prosecution or imprisonment, sacking or expulsion, or restrictions on academic freedom or to travel. Robert Quinn, founding executive director of SAR, stated that these efforts to target higher education are “about controlling the flow of information.”
The United States has seen a steep decline in academic freedom, a trend that predates the 2025 return of President Donald Trump to office. Data from the Academic Freedom Index Update 2026 indicate that pressures on higher education are not confined to a single administration.
The impact is visible in student mobility, as the number of international student visas granted by the U.S. during the summer of 2025 dropped by 35% compared to 2024, according to an analysis by Inside Higher Ed.
In Indonesia, the government of President Prabowo Subianto has intensified its control over universities. The government has conducted raids on student protests and suspended individuals perceived to hold anti-government views. Herlambang Wiratraman of Gadjah Mada University reported that the state is increasingly appointing university presidents and influencing research agendas, while military personnel maintain a growing presence on campuses.
Hungary presents a different trajectory following the election of Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government in April. The new administration has begun rolling back restrictions on university autonomy that were previously established during the tenure of Viktor Orbán.
For several years, many Hungarian institutions were managed by trusts governed by political appointees. In 2022, the Council of the European Union froze funds for 21 universities and limited participation in the Horizon Europe research program and the Erasmus+ exchange scheme. In October, the EU Council announced it would release €4.2 billion (US$4.7 billion) in funding and restore full participation in these initiatives, a move toward normalizing relations with the academic sector.
How do governments justify interference in research?
Authorities often frame interventions in neutral terms such as fiscal discipline, public accountability, or anti-discrimination, according to the SAR report. The organization notes that these justifications are frequently used to impose ideological control over research topics and funding.
What is the role of military oversight in Indonesian education?
Following a 2025 amendment to military law, officers are permitted to hold positions in civic institutions without resigning from the armed forces. Researchers in Indonesia have linked this policy shift to increased surveillance of universities and deeper administrative control over academic activities.
What prompted the release of EU funds for Hungary?
The European Union’s decision to release €4.2 billion in funding was linked to the current government’s efforts to dismantle boards managed by political appointees. The restoration of access to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ follows a period of restricted participation that began in 2022.