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

Spain: Fine against photographer underscores urgent need for reform of Gag Law - Article

Media freedom organisations urge the Spanish government to undertake a reform of the controversial Ley Mordaza in line with international human rights standards

Poland: open letter to Members of Parliament in defence of media freedom - Article

OBCT joined a coalition of press freedom and journalism organizations in urgently calling on members of the Sejm, the lower house of Poland’s legislature, to oppose a draft bill that would dramatically accelerate media capture in Poland. Here the text of the letter:

Poland: MFRR partners call for stronger EU and U.S. action over 'lex TVN' - Article

The passing of the so-called 'lex TVN' would clearly undermine the ownership structure of U.S.-owned TVN and TVN24, with implications for the government's control over the country's most influential critical broadcaster

MFRR calls for acquittal of Swedish documentary makers - Article

In view of the verdict in the trial of journalist Henrik Evertsson and camera operator Linus Andersson for their documentary about the sinking of the ‘MS Estonia’, the partners of Media Freedom Rapid Response stress the journalistic nature of the investigation carried out in the public interest and call for the acquittal of the two documentary makers. Here the statement:

Foreign media ownership in Europe Saturday 24 March 2018 - Infographic

, considering four areas: basic protection; market plurality; political independence; and social inclusiveness.

Journalism and media privilege - Reports

An overview of the most recent rules, case law, and policies across Europe on the privileges given to journalists when exercising their functions

Restrictions on parliamentary reporting violates free expression: MLDI files intervention at European Court - Legal Resources

MLDI and four other NGOs have filed a third-party intervention in the European Court of Human Rights case of Iván Szabolcs Mándli and Others v. Hungary. The Court will examine the circumstances under which journalists may be forbidden from entering and reporting from public fora, such as parliamentary premises

Judicial practice on Media Freedom in Russia: the role of the Supreme Court - Reports

An overview of the way a Resolution by the Supreme Court has shaped Russian jurisprudence in the areas of media freedom, regulation of online media, rights of journalists, and access to information

Protection of business secrets does not rule out the right of the press to be informed by government - Legal Resources

On 25 March 2015 the Federal Administrative Court of Germany in Leipzig ruled that representatives of the press can demand information about facts that protect business secrets from government agencies, if their right to be informed outweighs the interest of business secret protection.