For Americans used to seeing scenes of journalists in authoritarian countries being harassed, intimidated, jailed and killed, the sight of reporters covering protests over the death of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer being assaulted by police was shocking – but it kept up.

Furious over an attack on a TV news team near the White House by U.S. Park Police clearing the way for President Donald Trump to walk to a church for a photo opportunity, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison demanded answers.

Journalist Annika Smethurst, whose home was raided by police looking for the source of a story disclosing government plans to spy on citizens, won't be charged, Australian Federal Police (AFP) said even as they claimed there was a “serious breach” of the law.

With Australia's government clamping down on journalists for revealing state secrets to spy on citizens and alleged war crimes by its soldiers in Afghanistan, 30 editors, reporters and media organizations face trial for reporting details of Cardinal George Pell's 2018 child sex abuse conviction that was voided on appeal.

Greece has begun weekly gradually lifting restrictions that shut down non-essential businesses and required people to mostly stay in their homes.

Blueprint for Free Speech has published an opinion piece in Spanish media outlet Infolibre, drawing the link between COVID-19 and the need to protect workers and citizens blowing the whistle.

The worldwide spread of the coronavirus has highlighted the importance of whistleblowers like never before. Blueprint’s Dr Suelette Dreyfus and Bruno Galizzi explain why.

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.