The International Press Institute (IPI) battling targeted cyberattacks - Article

According to the Institute, the attacks appears to be in retaliation for the work in favour of independent media outlets in Hungary, which were also targeted.

by Dimitri Bettoni

Originally published by OBCT . Also available in ITA

Trudeau against Facebook: social media, copyright, and information - Article

In protest against the new Canadian law that requires social media to pay news organisations every time a user shares a link, Facebook has blocked access to news portals, earning the condemnation of Prime Minister Trudeau. In Europe, meanwhile, new regulations are on their way on the removal of content, advertising, and disinformation

By Paola Rosà

Originally published by OBCT in ENG and ITA

Journalists and spyware surveillance: an open letter to the European Parliament calling for an absolute prohibition - Article

The world of journalism is mobilizing and launching yet another heartfelt appeal to the European Parliament to introduce, in the proposed European Media Freedom Law (EMFA) under discussion, a total ban on the use of spying software against journalists.

Local Media for Democracy Webinar: How to get a successful application - Training

A webinar addressed to Bulgarian journalists working for local media outlets aimed at explaining how to apply for the Local Media for Democracy grant programme

Wiretapping and trojans: the Nordio bill alarms journalists - Article

For the Italian Press National Federation and trade associations, the crackdown on the dissemination of transcripts is a new attack on freedom of the press and citizens' right to be informed. Even MPs are in turmoil, worried that the "cyber interceptor" – aka trojan - will get out of the hands of its users

By Paola Rosà

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

24 International Organizations Call for an End to Russian War Crimes Against Journalists in Ukraine - Article

OBCT joins 23 other civil society organizations to call for an end to Russian war crimes against journalists in Ukraine

The Rule of Law Mechanism: a safeguard to media freedom in the EU? - Training

In its Rule of Law Report 2023 the European Commission acknowledges that media freedom remains a sector of concern in many member states. How can the Rule of Law Mechanism contribute to the safeguard of free and independent media in the EU? We will discuss it in a webinar with journalists and experts from Italy, Croatia and Poland

Greece: Swift investigations required after two attacks against journalists - Article

OBCT joins journalists’ and media freedom organisations in condemning recent attacks to Greek journalists Giorgos Papachristos and Kostas Vaxevanis

Media, politics, and vexatious lawsuits - An Italian perspective - HTML5 video

An excerpt from the 2023 MFRR Summit dedicated to “Press Freedom on the Line” - which took place from the 29 to the 31 of March dedicated to the spreading of the SLAPP phenomenon in Italy. Recently, Italy has drawn the attention of several international organisations working on media freedom. A cause for concern is the rapid succession of defamation lawsuits and subsequent legal proceedings against Italian journalists and intellectuals brought up by politicians and high-ranking public figures. By exploring the case study of Italian newspaper Domani – which in a matter of months has been respectively threatened to be sued and sued by two high profile public figures – the discussion focused on defamation, SLAPPs, and the challenges Italian media face when reporting on public figures.

Surveying the landscape - Initiatives to counter spyware - HTML5 video

Within the context of the 2023 MFRR Summit dedicated to “Press Freedom on the Line” - which took place from the 29 to the 31 of March - this discussion explored the strengths and weaknesses of the current draft of Article 4 of the EMFA, through a comparative analysis of the existing independent authorities that the article requires member states to designate, in order to deal with complaints about breaches of provisions of the article itself. The lack of judicial ex-ante evaluation mechanisms were discussed as a key missing element which has attracted much criticism from media-focused NGOs and civil society organisations which have been called upon to provide feedback by the Commission.