LIBYA
In the context of the civil war, political factions and rival militias took control of mainstream media in areas under their control. The civil war has caused considerable economic instability for the media in Libya. Media attacks, kidnappings and murders of journalists are common. Many of them go into exile abroad. With the damage to infrastructure, broadcasters and newspapers are facing serious production and distribution difficulties. There are, however, a variety of private television channels serving the Libyan public, although most are broadcast by satellite from abroad. In addition, several information sites have been developed. Social media, mainly Facebook and Twitter, hold a prominent place in the exchange of information between Libyans. The internet penetration rate was estimated at 19% in 2015. Expansion of access has been hampered by weak telecommunications infrastructure and frequent power outages.
