Briefing paper

Covid-19 and the impact on freedom of expression, access to information and freedom of the media

This paper is intended to provide an overview of the trends and challenges to freedom of expression, freedom of the media and access to information stemming from national governments’ responses to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Official responses to the Covid-19 pandemic have quickly turned into a real human rights crisis. Rights and freedoms have been drastically restricted almost everywhere, including in established democracies.


This paper is intended to provide IMS departments and colleagues with an overview of the trends and challenges to freedom of expression, freedom of the media and access to information stemming from national governments’ responses to the Coronavirus pandemic.