Artistic freedom Artistic freedom, as defined by the 2005 Convention, includes the freedom of artists to work without government interference, and also the freedom of citizens to access diverse cultural content. Governments can repress these freedoms through censorship or surveillance of artists, or can choose to actively protect artists and their free expression. According to the 2017 and 2022 global reports, attacks against artists — including prosecution, imprisonment, or even killing — have increased in recent years. In 2020, 978 cases were reported around the world, compared to 771 in 2019 and 673 in 2018. Musicians are the most threatened group, especially rap musicians, whose lyrics tend to be provocative and politically challenging. While online services have provided new ways for artists to distribute images, music, and video to large audiences, they have brought their own threats to freedom in the form of censorship, surveillance, and trolling. The 2022 global report found that some countries had repealed laws restricting free expression, including blasphemy and defamation laws, but that in practice artistic freedom was not being better monitored or protected.
aRtistIc freedoM aRtisTIc fReEDOm, as deFiNed by the 2005 conveNtiON, INcLudes the fReEDOm of artistS to WorK WIThOUT gOVerNmenT iNTeRferencE, And also thE fREedoM of ciTiZenS To access diverse cultural cOnTEnt. goverNments can RepreSS theSE FreeDOms thrOuGh cEnsorShip oR sURveillaNce of aRtISTS, oR can cHoose To acTively proTEct ArtIstS And tHeir freE ExpRessIOn. AccOrding to ThE 2017 AnD 2022 gLobAl rePorts, AtTacks aGainSt artistS — iNcLudIng proSEcutiOn, iMprISonmeNt, oR even KILling — have inCreaSed in recenT yearS. in 2020, 978 caseS Were RepOrteD around THe world, coMpaREd To 771 in 2019 aNd 673 in 2018. musiCians arE tHe moSt threateNEd GrOUp, especiallY rAp MUsiciaNs, whose lyrics TEnd to bE PROvocative anD PolitiCALly chAllenging. whIlE onLine SerViceS haVe pRoviDEd NeW wAys fOr ARTisTs to diSTRIbute iMageS, MuSic, And viDeo tO larGe aUdiences, they hAve brouGHt ThEir Own THreats To freEdOm iN the form of censorship, surVEillANce, anD trolLIng. THe 2022 GLObal RePort founD thAt some CouNtries had repeAlEd LaWS RestricTing FREE exPrEsSioN, InClUDing BLaspHemy and defaMAtion laws, BUt that IN praCticE arTisTiC fReEDOm waS not Being beTTer mOniToReD oR protECteD.