Current Landscape of Content Regulation in Ukraine
A significant majority of Ukrainians—80.4%—support the establishment of clear guidelines to remove or block illegal and terrorist content on the internet. Among them, 50.1% firmly agree, while 30.3% somewhat agree, reflecting a widespread recognition of the need for digital content oversight. Despite this strong backing, many respondents express concerns about potential abuses that could arise from enforcing such regulations.
Research conducted by Active Group in September 2026 reveals that 64.5% of participants view the spread of illegal content online as a serious or somewhat serious issue in Ukraine. This marks a decrease from 73.5% recorded in May 2026. Meanwhile, the percentage of those dismissing the problem as serious rose from 17.7% to 22.9%. These figures indicate persistent public support for clear content rules, even as some dissatisfaction with the current situation remains.
Internet Challenges and Risks
Over the past year, only 33% of Ukrainians felt protected or somewhat protected from harmful or terrorist online material, whereas 55.2% reported feeling unprotected. Exposure to online threats is widespread: 63% encountered misinformation, 52.6% faced fraud or phishing attempts, and 44.8% encountered hate speech. Additionally, 23.1% were exposed to radical content, 22.5% to calls for violence, 20.4% experienced unauthorized sharing of personal data, and 12.3% encountered terrorism-related content.
When asked who should be held accountable for internet safety, respondents assigned responsibility as follows:
- 40.9% pointed to content creators
- 39.9% held website and online service owners responsible
- 31.9% looked to law enforcement agencies
- 25.6% identified online platforms
- 22.9% considered social networks accountable
- 21.3% emphasized shared responsibility among multiple parties
- 21.1% said individual users bear responsibility
Concerns about regulating online content are notable: 54.8% fear potential misuse of regulation powers, 43.8% worry about censorship, 38.4% about privacy infringements, 36.8% about corruption risks, 32.7% about mistaken content removal, and 32.5% about possible pressure on opposition voices.
Regarding the balance between internet freedom and security, 23.1% advocate for maximum freedom online, with an additional 30.1% leaning toward freedom. Overall, 53.2% favor prioritizing freedom, while 33.7% place greater importance on security.
This survey was conducted on Ukrainian-controlled territories using the SunFlower Sociology online panel, involving 1,000 respondents. The sample is representative by age, gender, and region. The data was collected on September 19, 2026, with a margin of error of ±3.1% at a 95% confidence level.
The findings highlight Ukrainian society's awareness of the critical need to regulate internet content while simultaneously fearing unintended consequences from such measures. As misinformation and terrorist content continue to rise globally, Ukraine faces the challenge of implementing effective yet fair regulations that protect both digital security and user rights.