SECTOR 1 In private media houses, the editorial line determines the framework of the exercise of freedom of expression. In the Panama Papers affair, the newspaper L’Express de Madagascar, deliberately chose not to publish the list of names of Madagascan citizens, which appear in said list, claiming that information it had in its possession, did not allow them to presume that those people mentioned were involved in tax evasion. This was also a decision determined by the fact that none of them has been the object of any form of judicial enquiry or prosecution. As civil society can recall, the political authorities are not the only ones that limit the exercise of freedom of expression; to this should be added influential lobbies. One could cite the censorship exercised by the “medical mafia” during the vaccination campaigns. Wave upon wave of successive vaccination campaigns aroused a great amount of concern and incomprehension on the side of parents and civil society, fearing overvaccination. However, the media never reported these concerns leaving many questions unanswered, whereas the vaccinations continued unabated. In terms of individuals’ freedoms, social networks facilitate the freedom of expression. Unfortunately, Internet access remains restricted to a small category of the population. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 66 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR 2016 2.0 (2012 = 2.8, 2010 = 2.5, 2008 = 2.3, 2006 = 2.4)