Corruption is a serious problem across the globe and it is therefore essential to find tools that can work as means of fighting corruption. Determinants of corruption have been examined in empirical studies for decades. However, the effect of internet and digital media freedom on corruption has still not gained attention. Since its emergence, internet and digital media has grown immensely and has influenced many aspects of a society. Therefore, this paper is devoted to test whether internet and digital media freedom has an effect on corruption at country level.

Random effects estimation of unbalanced panel covering the years 2010 to 2012 and two different indexes of corruption has been used in answering the research question. A linear relationship between internet and digital media freedom and corruption has been tested. One of the corruption indexes supports a linear relationship while the other rejects it. The discrepancy makes the linear relationship questionable. The two indexes of corruption are in agreement with that internet and digital media freedom has to exceed a threshold before having a positive effect on corruption. The reasoning behind this is that not all restrictions to internet and digital media freedom are strongly correlated with corruption.