Fighting misinformation and defending free expression during COVID-19: recommendations for states

This toolkit by Access Now provides recommendations for states in fighting misinformation and free expression during the pandemic in order to defend and extend the digital rights of users at risk around the world.

"In this paper, we provide recommendations for protecting freedom of expression and opinion and the right to impart and receive information to enable governments to fight the COVID-19 health crisis in a rights-respecting manner. There will be an aftermath to the COVID-19 outbreak and the measures governments put in place right now will determine what it will look like. The recommendations outlined below will help ensure that the rule of law, and the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, as well as the right to receive and to impart information, are protected throughout this crisis and in the future. Under no circumstances should any government allow people’s fundamental rights to fall victim to this pandemic."