STATE OF THE MEDIA REPORT QUARTER 3. 2020 expression online remained relatively weak throughout the quarter, particularly undermined by the threats against citizens expressing dissenting views online, as well as the arbitrary application of laws such as that witnessed in the alleged powers of the IBA to regulate the streaming (‘broadcasting’) of content through social networks. These findings and other data compiled in the course of the study formed the conclusion on the state of the media in the quarter under review. Overall, the state of the media remained unchanged when compared to the second quarter, despite marginal, insignificant gains posted in certain variables in some of the key thematic areas under consideration. 7