Conceptualising and identifying information suppression
Information suppression, a key strategy of authoritarian regimes that seeks to silence dissent and control narratives, remains under-conceptualised in current literature on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). This paper offers a conceptualisation of information suppression, highlighting its role in both domestic and transnational contexts. By reviewing the literature on authoritarian regimes, propaganda, censorship, and transnational repression, we define information suppression as intentional actions to mute dissenting voices, thereby strengthening a regime's power. We identify three stages of the information cycle—production, dissemination, and salience—where suppression occurs, emphasising the interplay between domestic and global tactics. Our analysis shows that information suppression involves subtle tactics beyond coercion, including social norms and self-censorship, requiring contextually sensitive research methodologies. Additionally, we explore how targeted states' policies might inadvertently enhance foreign information suppression efforts. This conceptualisation aims to fill gaps in FIMI scholarship and provide practical methods for identifying and combating information suppression, ultimately protecting fundamental rights to information access and freedom of expression.
