January 2020 in Asia-Pacific: Landmark rulings on genocide and internet shutdowns. Read more
February 2020 in Asia-Pacific: Coronavirus, censorship, and threats against the media. Read more
March 2020: COVID-19 and censorship plague Asia-Pacific
What we saw spreading quickly across the region in March was not just the dreaded coronavirus, but the mainstreaming of laws, regulations, and other emergency measures deemed essential in fighting it. These measures are also – perhaps not coincidentally – very useful in suppressing critical voices. In short, the fear, disruption, and confusion caused by the pandemic are enabling various governments to attack freedom of expression in the name of addressing a public health crisis. Read more.