Poland’s unfair election reinforces demands for Europe-wide Media Freedom Act - Article

Following recent elections in Poland, which highlight the need for stronger media freedom and independence norms, OBCT joins media freedom and human rights groups in calling for the adoption of the Parliament's version of the proposed European Media Freedom Act

Reporting surveillance: the experience of Omer Benjakob - Article

Investigative tech reporter Omer Benjakob, member of the desk behind the publication of the cybersecurity focused newsletter NatSec+ for the newspaper Haaretz, speaks to OBCT/MFRR about the challenges of covering the surveillance tech industry in Israel, one of the countries that has developed this industry the most

Media freedom groups call for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia and press safety in Malta - Article

OBCT joins international organizations in calling for Maltese authorities to bring to justice those responsible for Daphne Caruana Galizia's killing

Greece: refugee reporting in times of surveillance - Article

It could be the plot of a psychological thriller movie. It's the true story of a young investigative journalist, Stavros Malichudis, who unintentionally became one of the protagonists of the Greek Watergate. His reports, awarded with many international prizes, told the stories of refugees in Greece

by Mary Dosopoulos

Originally published by OBCT . Available also in ITA

Surveillance: after Pegasus and Predator, the EU is (slowly) taking action - Article

While the European Parliament's Commission enquires on the various states where surveillance technologies have been commercialised despite the bans, the emphasis remains on civil society and digital security.

Interview with Lorenzo Bagnoli of IrpiMedia

by Paola Rosà

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.

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

European Media Freedom Act: the end of source confidentiality? - Article

The new European regulation aims to protect the secrecy of journalistic sources, the key concept at the heart of journalism, but actually risks legitimising its systematic violation

By Dimitri Bettoni

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

BiH: Republika Srpska reintroduces the crime of defamation - Article

On Thursday 20 July, the People's Assembly of the Republika Srpska adopted the Law on Amendments to the Crimial Code envisaging criminalization of defamation. Calls from international and local actors to protect freedom of speech and withdraw the scandalous provision that qualifies defamation as a criminal offense have gone unheeded

By Arman Fazlić

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA and BHS