Greece: MFRR to fund legal appeal for lawsuit against Alterthess - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in expressing dismay over the recent court ruling involving a SLAPP lawsuit against Greek media outlet Alterthess and one of its journalists, Stavroula Poulimeni. Given the dangerous consequences that such a legal precedent could have, MFRR organisations have decided to provide funding to cover legal fees for their appeal

South Tyrol, the information monopoly and a new case of SLAPP - Article

The Bolzano Salto.bz web portal has received a claim for damages for 150,000 Euros from the South Tyrol publishing giant Athesia. According to defence attorney Nicola Canestrini, it is a clear case of SLAPP, a gag complaint

By Paola Rosà

Originally published by OBCT, also available in ITA

Against SLAPPs, the first European conference - Article

The first European conference for the fight against SLAPPs, also known as gag or reckless complaints, was held in Strasbourg on 20 October, organised by the European Center for Press and Media Freedom and the Coalition against SLAPP in Europe. The report of the event

by Sielke Kelner

Croatia: MFRR partners concerned about wave of abusive legal actions against Index.hr - Article

MFRR partners condemn the wave of abusive legal actions filed against Index.hr, many of which used by powerful individuals as a means of silencing critical expression

Are whistleblowing laws working? - Reports

A global study of whistleblower protection litigation. A collaboration between Government Accountability Project and the International Bar Association

Democracy at Risk: Threats and Attacks Against Media Freedom in Europe. Annual Report 2019 - Reports

This 2019 Annual Report by 12 Council of Europe partner organisations portrays the situation of the media environment in Europe, highlighting its most problematic aspects and their causes. It also provides an in-depth look into particular issues or countries and recommendations to ensure a better media environment

The Media at Protests: Official Attitudes - Legal Resources

Covering protests and demonstrations is part of the core function of journalism of disseminating public interest information. However, often media workers are subjected to intimidations and attacks, also by police

Media Coverage of Protests and Demonstrations - Legal Resources

A thematic fact-sheet by the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists of the Council of Europe that discuss a number of ECtHR cases on the media coverage of protests and demonstrations

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

Satakunnan Markkinapörssi Oy and Satamedia Oy v. Finland - Legal Resources

The Strasbourg Court found no violation of the right to freedom of expression where Finnish courts and authorities had prohibited two companies from processing and publishing personal - but already public - tax data, first through a newspaper and later through a text-messaging service