Covid-19 being used to crack down on journalism

Nieman Lab's Jenna Hand reports that the rise of misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted various governments around the world to introduce emergency measures that, whilst often described as being for the purposes of national security and to ensure public safety during the crisis, also significantly stifle journalists' ability to do their job.

Julie Posetti, Director of research at the International Centre for Journalists, said that despite many of these laws being introduced for important measures, they could “inadvertently catch legitimate communication in the net,” which would result in journalism and even fundamental rights being criminalised and undermined.Read the Nieman Lab piece here.