Macau: Independent news outlet closes amid mounting legal pressure

Independent publication All About Macau announced its closure on October 30 following government deregistration, marking a setback for press freedom in the Chinese territory. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemn the closure of one of Macau's few remaining independent outlets and urges Macanese authorities to reinstate All About Macau's registration.

The front page of the independent media outlet All About Macau announces its closure on October 30, 2025. The English translation is: "Take care." Credit: Screenshot / All About Macau

In a statementreleased on October 30, All About Macau announced it would endits monthly print edition after October and cease online and social media updates from December 20, citing "increasing pressure and risk."

The decision follows notice from Macau's Government Information Bureau (GCS) that the outlet "no longer meets the statutory requirements to carry out related activities." With its registration cancelled, the outlet is without a legal basis to operate under Macau's Press Law. The authorities did not specify the legal grounds for the move.

In its announcement, the publication saidscarce resources, mounting legal threats, and the prosecution risks faced by its staff had made it impossible to maintain its editorial standards.

Founded in 2010 as an online platform and launching a print magazine in 2013, All About Macau became known for its critical reporting on politics, labour rights, and civil society. Since October 2024, however, the outlet saidit has faced escalating restrictions.

On April 15, three of its journalists were barredfrom entering the Legislative Assembly to cover the chief executive's policy address. All three now face potential criminal prosecution over the incident. Two days later, on April 17, two reporters, including editor-in-chief Ian Sio Tou, were detainedfor 11 hours and later accused of "disrupting government operations," an offence punishable by up to three years in prison.

The shuttering of All About Macau comes amid tightening media controls in the territory. Eleven publication registrations were cancelledin 2024, and press freedom has deteriorated further since the government expandedits national security laws in 2023, part of a broader clampdown on dissent from Chinese authorities.

The IFJ said: "The IFJ stands in solidarity with journalists from All About Macau. The use of bureaucratic and legal pressure to silence critical reporting is incompatible with international press freedom standards. The IFJ urges authorities to cease using legal tools to silence independent journalism and allow all media to operate without fear, restriction or reprisal."