According to a press release, members of the European parliament (MEPs) have expressed a deep concern about the many authoritarian regimes around the world that are using the COVID-19 pandemic to 'repress  civil society and critical voices.' In their annual report which mainly focuses on assessing the human rights situation in the world, MEPs noted that the authoritarian regimes are using the pandemic to justify several measures including the deployment of several digital applications and tools in a manner that infringes  fundamental human rights and weakens democratic principles of citizens. MEPs are therefore advocating for a new 'EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime' which should be  implemented immediately, as an essential part of the 'EU's existing human rights and foreign policy toolbox.'