News

Women harassment on social media: new tools to identify abuse

13/07/2020

A team of Columbia researchers is developing new computational tools designed to automatically identify abusive, offensive and harassing speech on social media platforms. Women journalists are asked to contribute to the research

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The key pillars to fight disinformation. A speech by Vera Jourová

11/07/2020

On July 7 the Vice-President of the European Commission held a speech at the European Media Conference "Diversity and Responsibility: Media in a Digital Society" organized by the German Federal Government to encourage debate on the issue of safeguarding media pluralism in Europe

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Malta: Renewed call for justice 1,000 days after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia

10/07/2020

Together with other media freedom and human rights organisations, OBCT again demands justice for all those involved in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was also a victim of several SLAPPs. Here the text of the call

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The Media Freedom Rapid Response supports Gazeta Wyborcza in Poland who has received over 55 threats of legal action

08/07/2020

A contribution of €15,000 has been granted to respond to the unprecedented legal threats made against Polish newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza to support the outlet’s legal defence. The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a mechanism to monitor and respond to threats against journalists and media workers in EU Member States and Candidate Countries, is a concrete support against SLAPPs

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Turkey: Alarming plans to further crackdown on social media

06/07/2020

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners are alarmed by the Turkish President’s threats to further restrict or shut down social media. We call on Turkey to comply with its international obligations and refrain from measures that will further prevent and disrupt exercising the right to freedom of expression and information online

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Bulgaria: the end of a legal harassment

06/07/2020

On 28 June the independent publisher and businessman Ivo Prokopiev was finally acquitted, thus confirming that the charges against him can be considered retaliatory and intended to stifle investigative reporting. The Media Freedom Rapid Response partners are relieved but ask to stop all further legal harassment against him and Economedia. Here the statement that was issued before the trial

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New attacks against journalists during protests and demonstrations

03/07/2020

IPI drafts an overview of the attacks suffered by reporters and media workers in the first six months of 2020: the situation is alarming and the MFRR partners raise further concerns inviting authorities to protect journalists working during protests and demonstrations. Recommendations for States and police officers include the invitation to develop cooperation schemes

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Montenegro: retrial of investigative journalist Jovo Martinović

02/07/2020

The MFRR partners call on Montenegro authorities to acquit the investigative journalist and drop all charges against Martinović, a specialist in covering organised crime for leading international media, who was convicted to an 18-month prison sentence by the High Court of Montenegro, on 15 January 2019 despite overwhelming evidence that his only links with organised crime were those of a reporter. After the Appeal Court overturned the verdict, on Monday 6th July the retrial continues

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Safety of Journalists: Recommendations to the UK Government

29/06/2020

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) outlines examples of good practice from across EU Member States and Candidate caountries that can be incorporated into the approach of the UK National Committee and Action Paln for the Safety of Journalists. Here the full text

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The Vice-President of the EU Commission confirms the engagement against SLAPP

29/06/2020

In an aswer to a Parliamentary Question submitted by MEPs Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, David Casa and Stelios Kouloglou, the Vice-President Vera Jourová confirms the Commission's commitment to tackle strategic lawsuits against public participation

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