Around the world, repressive cybercrime laws are being used to target and punish journalists, advocates, and other public watchdogs and to restrict access to independent news and information. Often enacted under the guise of protecting national security or combating harmful speech such as disinformation and hate speech online, these laws in practice have become powerful tools to censor, surveil, and jail journalists and critics in many countries around the globe.
This IPI report reflects more than a year of research and monitoring by IPI into the use of cybercrime laws by governments around the world to punish journalists and to censor independent news and information online. Our analysis draws on a review of 30 cybercrime laws in 30 countries – in Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America – where the use of such laws against journalists has been increasing.
IPI’s report also contains key recommendations for states and policy makers on developing cybercrime laws that respect and protect human rights and safeguard the rights of journalists to carry out their
work freely and without undue interference.
Read the full report: Cybercrime Laws – A New Front in Lawfare against the Press