Examples of states imposing restrictions on the right to freedom of expression in violation of
international law have been growing in recent years. This issue of Global Trends will examine
existing lawsthat appear to unlawfully restrictthe freedom of expression. These lawsfall into six
categories, which include:
• Laws criminalizing national betrayal
• Laws preventing extremism and terrorism
• Laws regulating the media
• Laws governing information and communications technology (ICT), including the
Internet
• Laws prohibiting defamation and libel
• Laws restricting specific categories of content