Blog

Allgemein

Gender-based violence, a growing weapon against women journalists

Gender-based violence, a growing weapon against women journalists

To mark International Women’s Day, partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) published alarming data highlighting the continued and systematic targeting of women journalists through gender-based violence in Europe.

08.03.2026

Our 2025 monitoring documented 53 cases of gender-based violence targeting women media professionals across EU Member States and candidate countries, including online smear campaigns, threats of sexual violence and derogatory comments about physical appearance. This data, recorded on the MFRR’s Mapping Media Freedom platform, reaffirms that women journalists are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence. Although it is evident that these cases capture only a limited snapshot of reality, they reveal clear and concerning trends for media freedom and the safety of journalists particularly amidst the growth of generative AI tools.

From online abuse to offline harassment

According to our monitoring, gender-based violence against women journalists occurred predominantly online (59%), and more specifically on social media. The majority of these attacks can therefore be categorised as tech-facilitated gender-based violence, where digital platforms, messaging apps or AI tools are used to harass and discredit women journalists. 

 

One example involved  the circulation of AI-generated nude photos of two Italian journalists. In another case, a Spanish journalist working for RTVE was recently cyberharassed after a photo of her was taken out of context and weaponised to undermine her professional credibility. Although such incidents are still emerging in Europe, they demonstrate the extent to which digital tools can be abused to facilitate and amplify already existing gender inequalities as well as physical gender-based violence. 

 

In 2025, MapMF also recorded serious cases of gender-based violence taking place offline. Several attacks were reported during sporting, political events, as well as demonstrations, and even at a journalist’s private residence. A serious example in France was that of Nora Bouazzouni, who specialises in gender. After years of cyberharassment, she received a letter at  her home containing hateful, racist, and misogynistic messages. 

Gender-based violence, a discrediting tool by public officials

Although many of the incidents are perpetrated by private individuals, public officials also play a significant role in spreading misogynistic rhetoric that is used to discredit women journalists and divert public and professional attention away from their work. In Spain, for example, the far-right party Vox launched a coordinated smear campaign against journalist Cristina Fallarás, which seriously exacerbated the ongoing harassment she has faced  for years. 

Online threats and smear campaigns in the Balkans: A worsening climate in Serbia

The situation of women journalists remains particularly tense in the Balkans. In 2025, our 21 cases documented across the region reflect a growing, worrying trend in online threats, smear campaigns, and other forms of harassment. Serbia accounts for the highest number of registered incidents, underscoring the particularly hostile environment facing journalists there. Independent journalists, frequently targeted by the Serbian government and tabloids with criticism, are facing threats and sexual harassment by private individuals. This trend has become even more pronounced since the deadly collapse of the Novi Sad glass roof and the intensified crackdown on media reporting on anti-corruption protests such as N1. 

 

In this contexts, gender-based violence can also extends beyond journalists themselves to their female family members, who are subjected to misogynistic insults and, in some cases, explicit threats of rape.  

Gender-based violence requires swift response

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the MFRR partners express their unwavering solidarity with all women working in the media sector who face enhanced risk in doing their job due to their gender. 

 

Gender-based attacks, both offline and online, require tailored action from EU Member States, candidate countries and the European Commission. This includes stronger implementation and enforcement of the Digital Services Act and the review of the Recommendation on the Safety of Journalists. 

 

Authorities must recognise that such attacks are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader strategy to silence voices and expressions of structural gender inequalities both offline and online. This is especially concerning when the misogynistic behaviour comes from or is propelled by the state and public officials. When backed or legitimised by a public figure, such attacks undermine journalists’ credibility, foster self-censorship, and create a permissive environment for further gender-based violence. 

 

The undersigned organisations therefore remind public officials that they bear a heightened responsibility and call on them to refrain from all forms of stigmatising, sexist or misogynistic rhetoric. They must also unequivocally and publicly condemn all attacks against women journalists. 

 

Effective reporting mechanisms are a cornerstone of protecting women journalists. We encourage women journalists to report incidents to initiatives such as Mapping Media Freedom, as well as to law enforcement authorities. Systematic documentation is essential to exposing abuse and triggering effective institutional responses. In addition, access to justice and thorough investigation into cases must be strengthened. 

 

Only through accountability and concrete safeguards can women journalists work safely and citizens’ right to information be fully protected.

Signed by:

  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Library

North Macedonia: Appeal court ruling on Investigative Reporting Lab…

North Macedonia: Appeal court ruling on Investigative Reporting Lab a worrying setback for media freedom

A recent defamation decision by the Court of Appeal in North Macedonia against the Investigative Reporting Lab (IRL) is a worrying development for media freedom in the country which should be overturned on further appeal, the undersigned partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) said today.

06.03.2026

At a public hearing before the Court of Appeal in Skopje on 26 February, the court ruled against IRL’s appeal and upheld the defamation verdict previously handed down to the media outlet and its editor-in-chief Saška Cvetkovska. IRL is an independent and non-profit investigative media platform and a local partner of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

 

The civil defamation lawsuit was filed in 2021 by Kočo Angjušev, a powerful businessman and former Deputy Prime Minister in North Macedonia. The litigation stemmed from a documentary produced by IRL as a joint investigation with the OCCRP, which was aired in 2021 on the public broadcaster, Macedonian Radio Television.

 

The lawsuit was initially dismissed in a first-instance verdict in 2021. After an appeal by the plaintiff, the Court of Appeal in May 2022 annulled the verdict and ordered a retrial. In October 2023, although no new evidence was introduced, a judge at the Basic Civil Court ruled against IRL and ordered them to pay symbolic damages and legal costs.

 

After the 2023 ruling, MFRR partners and the Safe Journalist Network (SJN) expressed alarm over the verdict, which controversially ruled that IRL should be classified as “non-media” and that its staff were “members of a group”, rather than professional journalists. The verdict also suggested that the state should open a misdemeanour procedure for the legality of the work of the organisation.

 

In the latest ruling, the court formally upheld the guilty verdict. The exact justification for the decision is not yet known, as the full written judgement will only be provided at a later stage. The decision was swiftly condemned by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia and the Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers.

 

MFRR partners are dismayed by the new ruling against IRL, which is one of the country’s leading investigative media platforms. The decision will have worrying implications for the future of non-profit journalism in North Macedonia. This lawsuit also bears many hallmarks of a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) and should be considered an attempt to limit legitimate and public interest reporting.

 

The MFRR therefore supports IRL’s stated intention to appeal the case to the Constitutional Court after the written verdict is received. If domestic legal remedies are exhausted, the case should be submitted to the European Court of Human Rights.

 

Moving forward, our organisations express our hope that this damaging ruling will be overturned. Until then, this case will continue to represent a dark stain on the media freedom record of North Macedonia and a worrying example of a rule of law flaw which undermines freedom of expression and the freedom of the press in the country.

 

To address the threat posed to media by these kinds of SLAPPs in the future, our organisations also urge the Macedonian authorities to pass reforms to the justice system to introduce legal safeguards for media outlets and journalists facing vexatious litigation and to implement and transpose the Council of Europe Recommendation and EU Directive against SLAPPs, as part of its EU accession alignment.

 

Our organisations stand in solidarity with the Investigative Reporting Laboratory, its staff and its journalism, and will continue to closely monitor and advocate on this case at the domestic and EU level.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU) 
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Library

Greece: Executives of spyware firm used to surveil journalist…

Greece: Executives of spyware firm used to surveil journalist Thanasis Koukakis sentenced to prison

The International Press Institute (IPI) welcomes the recent criminal convictions handed down by a Greek court to four individuals from surveillance firm Intellexa whose Predator spyware was used to illegally surveil Greek journalist Thanasis Koukakis.

27.02.2026

The first-instance prison sentences, delivered in an Athens court on 26 February, provide long-sought but partial justice for one of the most prominent cases of spyware surveillance against a journalist in Europe in recent years, and follow a years-long campaign for accountability by IPI and other press freedom groups.

 

According to IPI monitoring, this is also thought to be the first case anywhere in the world of individuals in the commercial spyware sector being criminally charged and convicted of marketing, distributing and using spyware which was used to illegally surveil a member of the press – marking a major step forward for accountability for the abuse of spyware technologies globally.

 

The surveillance of Koukakis was part of a wider wiretapping and spyware scandal in 2022 which became known as the “Greek Watergate”, involving the targeted and coordinated surveillance of more than 80 people, including government ministers and military officials.

 

On Thursday, the court convicted four individuals from Intellexa, the private company at the heart of the scandal, with violating the confidentiality of telephone communications and illegally accessing personal data and conversations using Predator.

 

The businessmen, all founders, executives or shareholders in the companies involved, were each sentenced to 126 years in prison, of which eight years must be served. All defendants plead not guilty. The first-instance verdict will be appealed.

 

IPI Executive Director Scott Griffen said: “This verdict is a major legal victory which provides accountability and justice for the illegal surveillance of a respected journalist and IPI member Thanasis Koukakis. We hope this ruling will be upheld on appeal and IPI will continue to monitor the case closely. This is a win not only for all those who pushed for justice, but also for the Greek investigative media community, who have fearlessly documented the surveillance scandal and its implications in Greece in recent years, facing abusive lawsuits in doing so.

 

Griffen added: “The illegal surveillance of journalists using tools like Predator and Pegasus continues to pose a severe threat to press freedom and journalist safety globally. This ruling boosts efforts to hold those responsible to account, but more needs to be done – IPI continues to work with our members and partners around the world to document spyware attacks on journalists, support legal safeguards, and push for justice for abuses.”

 

Koukakis told IPI: “The decision of the Athens Single-Member Misdemeanor Court to impose exemplary punishment on the producers and distributors of the spyware and to refer the case for further investigation, including possible acts of espionage, marks a return to institutional normalcy. It reaffirms that no one is above scrutiny and that journalistic sources, democratic oversight, and the rule of law are not negotiable. Justice must now be pursued fully and without fear or favour. The rule of law is not anyone’s private domain.”

Surveillance case

In February 2022, it was revealed that Koukakis – a contributor to Greek investigative platform Inside Story as well as international media such as the Financial Times and CNBC – had his mobile phone surveilled for at least ten weeks in 2021 using Intellexa’s technology.

 

Predator is a highly invasive commercial spyware that, among other methods, utilises zero-click infections to target devices, allowing the attacker to gain full access to a target’s phone to extract data, contacts and messages, including those sent through encrypted applications, as well as turn on the microphone and camera. The infection was confirmed after a forensic analysis by digital security research centre Citizen Lab.

 

At the time, the surveillance of Koukakis was the first publicly confirmed case of a journalist in Europe being spied on using Predator. In October 2022, he sued Intellexa in Greece for criminal breach of privacy and communications laws. Though the technology is developed by Cytrox, it was marketed by Intellexa, at the time based in Athens.

 

The spyware scandal revealed multiple additional targets of Predator spyware in Greece, shaking the government and leading to widespread demands for answers.

 

After initial criticism over the slow pace of justice in investigating the case, a dedicated criminal trial concerning Intellexa began in March 2025 before the Single-Member Misdemeanor Court of First Instance in Athens. The trial was adjourned and resumed in the autumn. The almost four-month-long proceedings heard testimony from more than 50 witnesses, including Koukakis, who provided detailed testimony to the court.

Questions remain over wider state involvement

Despite the verdict against individuals connected to Intellexa, serious questions remain over the potential involvement of state intelligence bodies in the spyware surveillance of Koukakis and many other targets in Greece.

 

At the same time as the spyware surveillance, Koukakis had also been put under traditional wiretapping by the Greek intelligence body, the EYP. This surveillance of his phone was conducted in June–August 2020 under a “national security” justification and was approved by an EYP prosecutor.

 

At that time, Koukakis had been investigating alleged financial misconduct related to Piraeus Bank and figures later linked to the Predator supply chain.

 

When Koukakis then filed a complaint with the Greek communications authority ADAE to identify whether he had been wiretapped through his telecom provider, the EYP immediately terminated the surveillance the same day. This action by the EYP raised concerns that the wiretap was halted to avoid disclosure and wider institutional scrutiny.

 

Crucially, evidence shows that as soon as the official state surveillance of Koukakis was ended by the EYP, the illegal use of Predator spyware surveillance against Koukakis began. This surveillance continued for around two months.

 

The Greek government has publicly admitted that the EYP, which was previously put under the supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister, conducted legal, conventional surveillance of the journalist. However, it has repeatedly denied that the state purchased or used Predator or that it has any relationship with Intellexa.

 

One third of all individuals infected with Predator in Greece were, at the same time, also under traditional wiretapping surveillance by the EYP, pointing to a pattern of overlap and potential coordination of surveillance between state and non-state actors.

 

Although a substantial body of circumstantial evidence indicates the coordination or at least parallel use of traditional state wiretapping by the EYP and Predator spyware used by Intellexa, direct proof that EYP operated or requested the use of Predator has not been established.

 

In the recent court verdict against Intellexa the judge stated that the four defendants appeared to have acted with the participation of “unknown third parties”. The judge indicated this could have been officials from Greek and foreign intelligence services.

 

The judge also ordered that trial reports containing crucial information about this element of the trial could be sent to the Athens Prosecutor’s Office for assessment. This could open the door to espionage investigation involving state bodies in the future.

 

While four individuals from the private company Intellexa have now been criminally convicted, currently no government politicians or officials from the EYP or wider state intelligence or law enforcement bodies in Greece has been investigated or charged with involvement in the use of spyware, which was illegal at the time.

 

After the scandal emerged, in 2022 the Greek government responded by criminalising the use of commercial spyware in Greece. Before the revelations, no law had explicitly banned the use of such tools by private actors. However, the same law also effectively legalised the use of spyware surveillance by state bodies, under strict conditions.

Advocating for accountability

Throughout this process, IPI consistently documented and highlighted the surveillance of journalists in Greece. In cooperation with media freedom partners, IPI wrote to the Greek government to demand accountability and answers and engaged with the European Parliament’s PEGA Committee investigating spyware abuse within the EU.

 

During a 2022 press freedom mission to Greece by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), IPI questioned a government minister over the surveillance, who was unable to provide additional information. During the mission, the delegation also met with other authorities and institutions in Greece connected to the spyware scandal, as well as with journalists affected by surveillance, including Koukakis.

 

In 2023, IPI published an in-depth report into the targeting of journalists in Greece using Predator, which probed the potential involvement of state authorities.

 

IPI will continue to closely monitor the legal proceedings on appeal and push for accountability for the illegal surveillance of journalists in Greece, as well as strong implementation of the new European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) rules on spyware use.

 

Despite sanctions, Intellexa remains one of the world’s leading providers of advanced commercial spyware. It now operates outside Greece and continues to market and sell its surveillance tools to governments around the world.

This statement was coordinated by IPI as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Allgemein

Ukraine: Four years into full-scale invasion, journalism remains a…

Ukraine: Four years into full-scale invasion, journalism remains a deadly profession

On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) hail the continued courage of journalists in the country who continue to report on the war despite serious risks – and waning international attention.

24.02.2026

As we mark the anniversary, our organisations honour and remember the journalists who have been killed while reporting on the war and in the line of duty. We pay our respects to these reporters, who made the ultimate sacrifice in bringing news on the war to Ukrainian and international audiences.

 

As documented in our recently published annual media freedom monitoring report, 2025 stood out as the deadliest period for journalists in Ukraine since the first months of the full-scale invasion in February-May 2022.

 

In October 2025, three media workers were killed in Russian attacks in Donetsk region. French photojournalist Antoni Lallican was murdered on October 3 in a strike conducted by an FPV (first-person view) drone. Ukrainian journalist Aliona Hubanova and cameraman Yevhen Karmazin were killed on October 23 in another Russian drone attack. According to MFRR monitoring, 12 more journalists were injured over the past year as a result of Russian attacks.

 

In the past year, rapid advances in drone technology have made reporting work in Ukraine more dangerous than ever. Multiple incidents recounted by reporters over the past months seem to show that journalists are no longer protected by PRESS markings. Instead, these have become a target used by Russian forces to identify and attack media teams with drones.

 

In the past four years, 16 journalists have been killed while reporting from Ukraine, while 62 more have been wounded. The perpetrators of these war crimes continue to act with impunity and none of those responsible have been held accountable to date.

 

Twenty-six Ukrainian journalists are meanwhile still being held in Russian custody, mostly on trumped-up charges of ‘terrorism’ or ‘espionage’. Testimonies by journalists released from Russian captivity paint a picture of systematic mistreatment and torture.

 

In this context, the tragic and still unexplained death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna in Russian custody in September 2024 continues to underscore fears for the safety of other imprisoned journalists.

 

Across Ukraine media and journalists also face increasingly challenging working conditions, as Russian attacks continue to target the country’s critical infrastructure. These have left media offices without heating, power or running water, with Russia continuing to strike Ukraine’s energy systems throughout a harsh winter season and sub-zero temperatures.

 

On the anniversary of the full-scale invasion, MFRR partners continue to stand in full solidarity with journalists and media workers facing these situations. In the past four years, Ukrainian journalists have offered a remarkable example to their European colleagues by continuing their work in extremely challenging wartime conditions, with many losing their lives or injured while documenting the horrors of war. MFRR partners will continue to monitor, advocate and provide support to the Ukrainian media community now and in the future, as we continue to support the fight for free and independent journalism in Ukraine.

 

In this context, we call on all stakeholders with diplomatic and advocacy leverage to pursue immediate and sustained efforts towards the release of the Ukrainian journalists still held behind bars.

 

As peace negotiations continue, we also urge the international community to embed accountability for violations against journalists within broader justice and accountability mechanisms addressing the Russian war against Ukraine With regards to the situation of media on the frontline, we call for the respect by all parties of international humanitarian law, which guarantees journalists access to zones of armed combat and offers them protection as members of the press.

 

Finally, we call for an urgent refocusing of international support for Ukrainian media, including through funding mechanisms to rebuild critical media infrastructure destroyed across Ukraine.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Allgemein

Turkey: Media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights…

Turkey: Media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights groups urge authorities to release and drop charges against journalist Alican Uludağ

The undersigned media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights organisations strongly condemn the arrest of Deutsche Welle (DW) correspondent Alican Uludağ and call on the Turkish authorities to drop all charges against him and cease the judicial harassment of journalists reporting on matters of public interest.

20.02.2026

On the evening of February 19, investigative journalist Alican Uludağ was detained by dozens of police officers who raided his home in Ankara and confiscated his digital equipment. The journalist was then transferred to Istanbul for interrogation and formally arrested on February 20. 

 

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that Uludağ was detained as part of an investigation on charges of “insulting the president” and “disseminating disinformation,” citing his social media posts related to news coverage in its announcement. The journalist was subsequently arrested on the charge of “insulting the president” following his interrogation.

 

DW has reported that the detention is specifically linked to Uludağ’s December 2024 coverage regarding the deadly 2016 Istanbul Atatürk Airport attack and his social media posts criticizing the measures taken by the Turkish government. 

 

In 2024, Uludağ detailed the overturning of aggravated life sentences for six ISIS members who were imprisoned in relation to the airport attack, leading to their subsequent release. Despite confirming the accuracy of the reported releases, the Directorate of Communications paradoxically accused the journalist of “disseminating disinformation,” claiming the reporting was intended to create a “false public perception.”

 

Uludağ’s unjustified detention is the latest example of the instrumentalization of criminal justice in Turkey to suppress press freedom. Reporting on court rulings and covering high-profile trials is a fundamental duty of the press and is essential for public accountability.

 

Our organisations stress that Uludağ is an award-winning journalist known for his rigorous coverage of judicial affairs, human rights violations, and corruption. The use of judicial harassment and disproportionate police presence to silence a well-known investigative journalist constitutes a clear act of intimidation and is aimed at chilling investigative reporting in Turkey.

 

The undersigned organisations call on the Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Alican Uludağ, drop all charges related to his journalistic work and social media commentary, and stop the systematic use of the “disinformation law” and “insulting the president” charges to stifle independent media.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Foreign Media Association (FMA Turkey)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS)
  • Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
  • Norwegian Helsinki Committee
  • PEN Norway
  • Progressive Journalist Association (ÇGD)
  • P24 Platform for Independent Journalism 

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Allgemein

Slovakia: MFRR partners continue to demand full justice for…

Slovakia: MFRR partners continue to demand full justice for Kuciak assassination

Ahead of the eighth anniversary of the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, the undersigned partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) renew our call for full justice for their brutal killing.

20.02.2026

With the new retrial of the twice-acquitted but alleged mastermind Marian Kočner now again underway in Bratislava as of January 2026, hope remains that all those responsible for ordering and carrying out this assassination will eventually face justice for their crimes.

 

On 21 February 2018, Kuciak and Kušnírová were fatally shot at their home outside Bratislava. Kuciak, a reporter for the investigative outlet Aktuality.sk, was known for exposing corruption and tax fraud schemes involving businessman Kočner and prominent figures linked to the ruling Smer-SSD party and organised crime networks.

 

Four people have so far been convicted and sentenced for the murders, including the hitmen and intermediaries. However, Kočner, who was accused of masterminding the crime after threatening Kuciak, has twice been acquitted due to a lack of conclusive evidence.

 

On January 26, the Special Criminal Court in Bratislava began deliberations in the retrial of Kočner. These new proceedings follow the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Kočner’s acquittal in May 2025. The case is being heard by a newly constituted court panel.

 

Eight years after the brutal assassination of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová, the media environment in Slovakia is under clear pressure, marked by dangerous rhetoric against the press by governing politicians, advancing media capture and the steady erosion of media freedom. 

 

Since the re-election of Prime Minister Robert Fico and the ruling coalition led by his populist Smer party in 2023, attacks on journalists have significantly intensified, including physical assaults, smear campaigns, verbal abuse and legal harassment.

 

As we honour the memory of Kuciak, our organisations urge the Slovak government to uphold media freedom, end all forms of harassment and smear campaigns against journalists, and ensure that the press can carry out its watchdog role without fear of reprisal. 

 

Our organisations will continue to closely monitor the ongoing retrial and plan to attend the verdict. Until then, we remain committed to advocating for justice for Ján and Martina until full justice is achieved, as in every instance where journalists’ safety is at risk or compromised.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI) 
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe 
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Library

Italy: MFRR to conduct follow-up media freedom mission to…

Italy: MFRR to conduct follow-up media freedom mission to Rome

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners will conduct an advocacy mission to Rome, Italy, on 9–10 March 2026 to assess key developments affecting press and media freedom in the country and push for implementation of crucial reforms. 

18.02.2026

Italiano

The mission will focus on four main themes: the reform of the public broadcaster RAI and its compliance with the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA); the transposition of the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive and broader defamation reform; digital threats and the use of surveillance against journalists; and media market concentration and its compatibility with the EMFA. 

 

The decision to return to Italy two years after the MFRR’s urgent mission to Rome in May 2024 reflects great concerns with the implementation of EMFA and findings from the MFRR’s latest monitoring report, which documented 118 press freedom violations in Italy in 2025. These cases included physical attacks, legal harassment, major spyware cases, and an attempted assassination of prominent journalist Sigfrido Ranucci. These developments point to ongoing structural threats to journalists’ safety, editorial independence, and media pluralism in Italy.

 

The delegation will engage with institutional and political actors, as well as with representatives of the leadership of RAI, media experts, journalists’ organisations, and media professionals. As in all MFRR country missions, the consortium has requested meetings with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure a balanced and comprehensive assessment of the situation on the ground.

 

The 2024 mission report, Silencing the Fourth Estate: Italy’s democratic drift, outlined a series of recommendations to address concerns regarding political interference in RAI, legal harassment of journalists and other threats to media pluralism. The March 2026 mission will assess developments since then and continue dialogue with national stakeholders.

 

The mission led by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and will be carried out with partners of the MFRR consortium: ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the International Press Institute (IPI), and Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT).

 

The delegation will work in coordination with local partners Amnesty International Italia, the Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana (FNSI), and the Unione Sindacale Giornalisti Rai (Usigrai).

 

A press conference will be held on Tuesday 10 March, from 11:45 to 13:00 CET at the premises of the Consiglio Nazionale Ordine dei Giornalisti, Via Sommacampagna 19, Rome, to present the preliminary findings of the mission.

 

The MFRR is a consortium of organisations committed to protecting media freedom across Europe. Through monitoring, support, advocacy, and country missions, the MFRR works to ensure a safer and more independent environment for journalists and media professionals. Further information about the mission and its outcomes will be published in the coming weeks.

Italia: il consorzio MFRR condurrà una missione dedicata alla libertà dei media a Roma

I partner del Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) organizzeranno una missione di advocacy a Roma, in Italia, il 9-10 marzo 2026 per valutare i principali sviluppi che influenzano la libertà di stampa e dei media nel paese e sollecitare l’attuazione di riforme cruciali. 

 

La missione si concentrerà su quattro temi principali: la riforma dell’emittente pubblica Rai e la sua conformità alla legge europea sulla libertà dei media (EMFA); il recepimento della direttiva UE Anti-SLAPP e la riforma in materia di diffamazione; le minacce digitali e l’uso della sorveglianza contro i giornalisti; la concentrazione del mercato dei media e la sua compatibilità con l’EMFA. 

 

La decisione di tornare in Italia due anni dopo la missione del consorzio MFRR a Roma nel maggio 2024 riflette le grandi preoccupazioni relative all’attuazione dell’EMFA e alle conclusioni dell’ultimo rapporto di monitoraggio MFRR, che ha documentato 118 violazioni della libertà di stampa in Italia nel 2025. I casi registrati dal report MFRR includono aggressioni fisiche, molestie legali, gravi casi di spionaggio informatico e l’attentato al giornalista Rai Sigfrido Ranucci. Questa tendenza segnala l’esistenza di minacce strutturali alla sicurezza dei giornalisti, all’indipendenza editoriale e al pluralismo dei media in Italia.

 

La delegazione si confronterà con attori istituzionali e politici, nonché con rappresentanti della dirigenza Rai, esperti dei media, organizzazioni di giornaliste e giornalisti. Come in tutte le missioni MFRR di advocacy, il consorzio ha richiesto incontri con un’ampia gamma di parti interessate per garantire una valutazione equilibrata e completa della situazione sul campo.

 

Nel rapporto della missione del 2024, intitolato Silenziare il Quarto Potere: La deriva democratica dell’Italia, il consorzio aveva delineato una serie di raccomandazioni per affrontare le preoccupazioni relative alle interferenze politiche nella Rai, alle azioni vessatorie nei confronti dei giornalisti e ad altre minacce al pluralismo dei media. La missione del marzo 2026 valuterà gli sviluppi intervenuti da allora e proseguirà il dialogo con le parti interessate a livello nazionale.

 

La missione è guidata dalla Federazione europea dei giornalisti (EFJ), e prenderanno parte alla missione gli altri partner del consorzio MFRR: ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the International Press Institute (IPI), e Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT).

 

La delegazione sarà affiancata dai partner locali: Amnesty International Italia, la Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana (FNSI), e l’Unione Sindacale Giornalisti Rai (Usigrai).

 

La mattina del 10 marzo si terrà una conferenza stampa presso la sede del Consiglio Nazionale Ordine dei Giornalisti, in Via Sommacampagna 19, Roma, per presentare i risultati preliminari della missione.

 

Il consorzio MFRR riunisce organizzazioni impegnate nella tutela della libertà dei media in tutta Europa. Attraverso attività di monitoraggio, sostegno, advocacy e missioni nei vari paesi, MFRR lavora per garantire un ambiente più sicuro e indipendente ai giornalisti e ai professionisti dei media. Ulteriori informazioni sulla missione e sui suoi risultati saranno pubblicate nelle prossime settimane.

Library

Hungary: Reports of potential corporate influence behind SPO investigations…

Hungary: Reports of potential corporate influence behind SPO investigations set dangerous precedent for press freedom

The International Press Institute (IPI) is alarmed by reports that multinational company Samsung SDI may have prompted Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO) to launch a discriminatory investigation into Átlátszó, one of Hungary’s leading investigative newsrooms.

18.02.2026

In wake of the revelations, IPI repeats our call for authorities in Hungary to immediately repeal the restrictive Protection of National Sovereignty Act and dismantle the Sovereignty Protection Office, which continues to pose a direct threat to media freedom.

 

On February 12, independent Hungarian media outlet Telex reported that senior managers at the South Korean multinational’s battery plant in Hungary had previously discussed different approaches for in some way restricting or silencing the ability of Átlátszó to investigate the company.

 

The apparently retaliatory action by Samsung followed the publication of an investigation by Átlátszó, based on official inspection documents, which revealed serious toxic‑exposure and safety problems at Samsung SDI’s factory in the city of Göd.

 

The recent Telex report, based on a leaked agenda from a Samsung management meeting in March 2024, suggests the firm was aware of the SPO’s scrutiny of Átlátszó’s foreign funding, and discussed wider government efforts to “stop or restrict” Átlátszó’s operations ahead of the next general election.

 

Three months later in June 2024, the SPO formally launched a probe into Átlátszó and then published a defamatory report accusing Átlátszó of disinformation and intelligence activities “against the Hungarian state and its institutions, disguised as legitimate data gathering.” Átlátszó rejected the accusations. They took SPO to court and in December 2025 won the case on first instance. The SPO has appealed that verdict, which has yet to be decided.

 

While the revelations by Telex do not provide clear evidence of direct lobbying by Samsung, it does suggest a major multinational firm considered requesting action from a politically-controlled body to censor an investigative media outlet in an EU member state. It is not known whether Samsung did approach the SPO and it is unclear what role any potential lobbying from the company played in the SPO launching its investigation into Átlátszó.

 

Tamás Bodoky, founder and director of Átlátszó, told IPI he was surprised to learn that the Göd Samsung factory may have lobbied the government for an SPO investigation: “We find it particularly ironic that the authorities are attacking the domestic press, which serves the people living here, on the grounds of protecting sovereignty in order to defend a giant foreign-owned company’s interests.”

 

Amy Brouillette, IPI’s Director of Advocacy, said: “The potential involvement of a foreign company in investigations into Átlátszó sets an alarming precedent of a corporation using a restrictive law on foreign funding and influence to help silence independent media and curtail independent voices. The media play a critical role in exposing potential abuses and harms by both public authorities and by private corporations.

 

“We remind the business community in Hungary that they have an obligation to protect and respect the rights of Hungarian citizens. These rights include the right to receive independent news and information, in line with Hungarian and EU law. We also reiterate our full solidarity with Átlátszó and with all independent Hungarian journalists and media organizations that continue to report on matters of public interest even in the face of mounting pressure.”

 

In May 2024, The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Hungary, stating that the Sovereignty Protection Act violates EU law. The legal process is ongoing.

 

The SPO was established under Hungary’s Protection of National Sovereignty Act and began operating in early 2024. Ostensibly aimed at countering foreign influence on Hungarian elections, the office is an arbitrarily appointed body that operates without meaningful oversight.

 

IPI has strongly criticised the operations of the SPO, which since its establishment has been instrumentalised to ramp up pressure on free press and human rights NGOs in Hungary.

 

  • In 2025 and 2026, IPI documented 51 press freedom violations on the Mapping Media Freedom database which affected 76 journalists and media entities, including 12 legal incidents.  

This statement was coordinated by IPI as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Library

Media Freedom Monitoring Report 2025

Media Freedom Monitoring Report 2025

Europe’s media freedom landscape faced sustained pressure in 2025, with attacks on journalists, legal harassment, and political interference continuing across the continent. The new MFRR Monitoring Report 2025 documents the scale and patterns of these threats, drawing on verified cases recorded in the Mapping Media Freedom database.

18.02.2026

Europe’s media freedom landscape faced sustained pressure in 2025, with attacks on journalists, legal harassment, and political interference continuing across the continent. The new MFRR Monitoring Report 2025 documents the scale and patterns of these threats, drawing on verified cases recorded in the Mapping Media Freedom database.

Between January and December 2025, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) documented 1,481 press freedom violations affecting 2,377 media-related persons or entities across 36 countries. The report covers all 27 EU Member States as well as nine countries with EU candidate status, offering one of the most comprehensive snapshots of media freedom conditions in Europe.

Download full Monitoring Report 2025

The findings reveal persistent problems that cut across borders and political systems. Verbal attacks, smear campaigns, and intimidation remained the most frequently recorded violations. Digital threats continued to rise, while political actors were increasingly identified as sources of pressure against journalists. In several countries, the data points to deep-rooted structural issues rather than isolated incidents.

The report is structured in four main parts. It opens with a general overview of trends and key statistics, followed by three thematic chapters examining the impunity of crimes against journalists, the spread of foreign agent laws and narratives, and the ongoing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). The final sections provide detailed country analyses, including case studies from EU Member States and candidate countries where risks to press freedom are particularly acute.

By combining quantitative data with qualitative analysis, the Monitoring Report offers policymakers, journalists, and civil society a clearer picture of how threats to media freedom evolve across Europe. It also highlights areas where stronger safeguards, accountability, and legal protections are urgently needed.

The report has been compiled by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the International Press Institute (IPI) as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) project, co-financed by the European Commission.

Library

Serbia: Coordinated bot attacks on Instagram accounts of independent…

Serbia: Coordinated bot attacks on Instagram accounts of independent media emerge as new weapon of censorship

The MFRR partners today raise alarm over a recent wave of bot-driven cyber attacks targeting the social media accounts of Serbian media outlets. Our organisations warn that the dozen recorded incidents are not isolated cases but part of a broader pattern of coordinated attacks on the free flow of news and independent information in Serbia, which remains in a period of media freedom crisis.

12.02.2026

The MFRR partners today raise alarm over a recent wave of bot-driven cyber attacks targeting the social media accounts of Serbian media outlets. Our organisations warn that the dozen recorded incidents are not isolated cases but part of a broader pattern of coordinated attacks on the free flow of news and independent information in Serbia, which remains in a period of media freedom crisis.

 

Between 8 and 30 January, the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) recorded at least 12 coordinated bot attacks against Instagram accounts of independent media outlets in Serbia. Affected media outlets are Nova.rs, Nova S, Nova TV, Zoomer, Radar, Autonomija, VOICE, Danas, N1, Ozon Press, as well as photojournalists Irena Radosavljević and Gavrilo Andrić. 

 

The bot attacks successfully resulted in the temporary suspension of several media’s Instagram accounts, limiting their ability to disseminate news. While they used different tactics, the attacks occurred within a short timeframe and involved artificial activity, including sudden surges in followers driven by fake profiles, leading Meta to automatically suspend the targeted accounts. All cases of bot attacks resulting in a suspension of media accounts were documented on the MFRR’s platform Mapping Media Freedom.

 

For instance, in the case of photojournalists Irena Radosavljević and Gavrilo Andrić, their accounts were suspended after dozens of fake profiles filed false reports against them to Meta. In addition, three of Nova.rs and Čačak-based portal OzonPress’s Instagram accounts were temporarily suspended for 180 days due to alleged violations of community guidelines. In other cases, the attackers artificially flooded the Instagram accounts of media with thousands of new fake followers, triggering automatic suspension by Meta for unusual activity. In the case of the news portal Radar, the deletion of its account not only obstructed the media activity but also allowed a fake account to be created, raising concerns over spoofing.

 

All accounts were restored by Meta after media outlets and media professionals directly contacted Meta’s support team.  

 

In a letter to Meta, NUNS sought clarification from the tech company regarding the reasons for the suspensions, the safeguards in place to protect media outlets and journalists, as well as the existing mechanisms for human review and contextual assessment.

We support these requests for urgent clarification from Meta. We call on Meta to apply EU legal obligations under Articles 16 and 17 of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which require platforms to notify affected users of any restriction or suspension of content and accounts “without undue delay” and provide them with a clear and specific “statement of reasons”, including the legal basis for such decisions. Article 18 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) demands that media service providers be contacted by Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) prior to any potential removal of editorial content. While Serbia is not an EU member state, it’s an EU accession country that should respect EU standards in the process of becoming a fully-fledged member.  

 

The undersigned organisations emphasise that this unprecedented series of coordinated attacks on Instagram accounts constitutes an attempt to undermine media freedom and independent journalism in Serbia, given that Instagram serves as a critical communication channel for media outlets and journalists. It is especially important given that many young people rely almost exclusively on digital platforms for information on social and political issues.

 

MFRR partners warn that these attempts to block the social media platforms of media organisations represent a worrying new form of digital censorship in Serbia, and are part of a broader trend of increased threats, smear campaigns, and legal pressure against journalists. While the attacks were quickly addressed and the accounts were unblocked on this occasion, our organisations warn that these platform flaws could easily be manipulated by bad actors again in the future, either in Serbia or elsewhere in the world, unless additional safeguards are put in place.

 

These serious violations require a decisive response and clear, enforceable guarantees from Meta to protect both freedom of expression and the public’s right to be informed. The MFRR partners will continue to monitor these developments closely and will engage directly with Meta to seek clarification and accountability.

Signed by:

  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.