COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker
Keep Civic Space Healthy
This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.
For more information and analysis by region, click here.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.
Executive Order 2020-67 (COVID-19)
The Governor of Michigan declared a state of emergency under the Emergency Management Act on March 10, 2020. Under the Act, both houses of the legislature must approve a request to extend the state of emergency, otherwise it expires after 28 days. While both houses agreed to extend the emergency until April 30, they did not agree to extend it further. In response, on April 29, the Governor declared the emergency over, but she then declared a new emergency under the Emergency Management Act one minute later on the same day, thus triggering a new, 28-day period in which the emergency is in effect, but does not require legislative approval.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 29 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
States of Emergency in All 50 States
As of April 7, 2020, all 50 U.S. states have declared a "state of emergency" in response to COVID-19. 42 states have issued orders urging residents to stay at home. Several of the remaining states have stay at home orders in parts of the state. Washington State was the first to declare a state of emergency on March 2, 2020. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 7 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Emergency, Movement
Type: order
Banning Spread of False Information in Puerto Rico
The order by Puerto Rico's governor makes it illegal for media outlets or social media accounts “to transmit or allow the transmission†of “false information with the intention of creating confusion, panic, or public hysteria, with regards to any proclamation or executive order declaring an emergency, disaster or curfew.†(See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 6 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Disinformation, Press Freedom, Expression, Access to Information
Type: order
Measures to Contain the Spread of Coronavirus in Puerto Rico
The governor's executive order establishes a lockdown, requiring residents to stay in their homes 24 hours a day, seven days a week between March 31 and April 12, 2020. The order provides limited circumstances for leaving between 5am and 7pm. Under the order, "breaching, disrespecting, or disobeying" the curfew may be punished with up to 6 months in jail and a $5000 fine. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 30 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Movement
Type: order
Proclamation on Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak
Declares that the Covid-19 outbreak constitutes a "national emergency." (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 13 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
Measures Affecting Public Record Requests and Public Meeting Requirements
Federal agencies and state and local governments have issued a mix of policy directives, orders, and laws regarding the impact of COVID-19 on public record requests and public meeting requirements. Some states, such as New Jersey or Washington DC, have suspended deadlines for responding to public record requests for the duration of the emergency. With regard to public meeting requirements, most states have changed their rules to allow for virtual meetings that the public can observe, but some, such as Illinois and Nebraska, have not explicitly provided for public participation in virtual meetings. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 1 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Access to Information
Type: policy
Delays in Responses to Freedom of Information Requests
A press freedom organization has documented more than 130 instances of state and local officials citing the pandemic as a reason for delayed responses to freedom of information (FOIA) requests. Some state and local jurisdictions have indicated that they plan not to respond to FOIA requests until the end of the pandemic. These delays have adversely impacted coverage of the pandemic, among other issues, as journalists are unable to obtain public records and other government information.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 1 Oct 2020
Issue(s): Press Freedom, Expression, Access to Information
Type: practice
Arrests for False Information Related to Coronavirus
According to multiple reports, individuals in the state of Texas have been arrested and accused of publishing false reports related to coronavirus. Arrests have been carried out by state police as well as the FBI.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 24 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Disinformation, Expression
Type: practice