With more governments around the world pushing the use of mobile phone apps to track potential contacts of people infected with the COVID-19 Coronavirus, the worry they could be used for surveillance is growing too.

Joining a chorus of other press freedom and journalists’ rights groups, the International Press Institute (IPI) and Amnesty International said some governments are using the COVID-19 pandemic as a ruse to expand powers and keep the media from reporting wrongdoing and equipment shortages.

Fourteen international press freedom and journalist groups warned of a growing pattern of intimidation to silence reporters, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some EU governments using the crisis to consolidate power.

The marking of this year’s World Press Freedom Day was no celebration but a remembrance for journalists jailed, killed, assaulted and besieged by governments wanting to prevent them from revealing wrongdoing, especially over the COVID-19 pandemic, equipment shortages and misappropriated gear.

Already having some of the world's strictest privacy laws, the European Union wants mobile apps tracking COVID-19 cases to keep most data on devices instead of a central server as governments consider schemes to follow the path of the pandemic.

Australia’s highest court unanimously invalidated a search warrant police used to search the home of journalist Annika Smethurst.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic criticises countries for using the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis to curtail media freedom.

The Coalition to Make Whistleblowing Safe During COVID-19 and Beyond has written an open letter calling on all public authorities and institutions to protect those who report or expose harms, abuses and serious wrongdoing.

Recent measures taken by PM Viktor Orban severely damage Hungarian democracy.

A bail request for Julian Assange made based on fears he might get infected with Covid-19 was rejected.

Greek MP Kyriakos Velopoulos is being investigated for his promotion of Covid-19 protective balm.