How did Joseph II change censorship and freedom of the press?

In 1781, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II significantly eased official censorship to garner public support for his ambitious religious and social reforms. By granting freedom of the press, he aimed to encourage writers to criticize Roman Catholic clericalism and the authority of the pope.123

However, this liberalization was short-lived. As writers began to direct their criticism toward Joseph’s own policies, the emperor responded by curtailing these freedoms. Censorship was eventually reimposed, and by 1786, Joseph issued secret instructions for the police to monitor public opinion across all levels of society. By 1789, state surveillance focused heavily on identifying agitators and potential unrest, marking a shift back toward the restrictive practices that had characterized the reign of his mother, Maria Theresa.312