Corona Dictatorship Watchdog

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global challenge and has required some unprecedented measures from governments around the world to ensure the health and safety of their citizens and economies. It is also posing challenges to liberal democracy and the open society as we know it.

Here, we present an overview of countries that are using this crisis to establish or consolidate authoritarian powers, undermine liberal democracy, suspend parliamentary principles and abolish divisions of power and the rule of law.

How does the abolishment of parliamentary control and suppression of freedom of speech help to procure necessary medical equipment, limit the infection rate and help support families and businesses in need?

Drastic measures to contain this crisis can be justified, but they must always be of a temporary nature and subject to parliamentary control.

Democratic backsliding now will have a longer-lasting impact than any coronavirus.

What’s the story in your country? Help us update this website and tell us where democracy is backsliding.

 

Additional Resources

These 30 Regimes Are Using Coronavirus to Repress Their Citizens
While most governments around the world are adopting measures to protect their citizens and economies, some others are using this pandemic to consolidate their power. Vice News reports on 30 countries that are using this health crisis to undermine fundamental rights of their citizens.

Leugnen, löschen, unterdrücken
How authoritarian countries are using the COVID-19 health crisis to restrict freedom of expression and freedom of media, leading to disinformation amongst their citizens (in German).

For Autocrats, and Others, Coronavirus Is a Chance to Grab Even More Power
Governments are adopting extreme measures to tackle COVID-19, however, some of them are using this health crisis to expand their powers and backslide democracy, reports The New York Times.

Use of Surveillance to Fight Coronavirus Raises Concerns about Government Power After Pandemic Ends
Leaders around the world are using technologies to identify and track citizens that are infected, and ensure lockdown rules are being followed. These measures have raised concerns of privacy and fundamental rights, detailed in this report from CNBC.