CPJ joins call to reject draft EU regulation for online terrorist content
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined dozens of civil society organizations today in urging the European Parliament to reject a draft regulation on terrorist content online when it is proposed for a vote in April. The letter, which was sent to every member of parliament, notes that the draft would allow national authorities to order…
CPJ welcomes European Democracy Action Plan, calls for EU member state support
Brussels, December 3, 2020—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes important measures to strengthen media freedom and pluralism in the European Democracy Action Plan published by the European Commission today. The plan says the Commission will issue a recommendation on the safety of journalists and establish a structured dialogue with member states regarding its implementation, according…
EU should withdraw draft resolution that threatens encryption
November 10, 2020—The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern after the Council of the European Union proposed a draft resolution last week calling for national authorities across the EU to have access to encrypted messages as part of criminal investigations into terrorism and organized crime. Journalists rely on encryption to evade surveillance and protect their…
Hungarian court gags investigative report, citing EU data protection law
Berlin, October 21, 2020—A gag order issued by a Hungarian court has cited European Union data privacy rules to prevent the weekly Magyar Narancs newspaper from publishing an article on Budapest-based soft drinks company Hell Energy and its owners, according to the article’s author, Ákos Keller-Alánt, and local news reports. The court in Budapest issued…
CPJ reminds EU that ‘e-evidence’ rules should protect journalists
CPJ today prompted the European Parliament to safeguard press freedom and human rights in a proposed regulation known as the ‘e-evidence’ proposal, co-signing a letter with European Digital Rights and other digital and media organizations. CPJ has expressed concern about the lack of safeguards in the proposed Regulation on European Production and Preservation Orders, which…
How will the EU’s Digital Services Act impact journalism?
The European Union is reviewing the legal framework for digital information, goods and services—a process with the potential to change the course of internet history for journalists and everybody else. In June, the European Commission launched public consultations about the upcoming Digital Services Act (DSA), an initiative to review and expand rules established 20 years…
EUobserver reporter Eszter Zalan on covering the EU amid coronavirus, disinformation, and economic crisis
Eszter Zalan is a correspondent for the Brussels-based EUobserver. She covered conflict and war zones for Népszabadság, the now-shuttered Hungarian daily, for several years, and covered Hungary for Agence France-Presse, before joining EUobserver in 2015. Recently, she has reported on EU affairs, including Brexit, Hungary, and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. CPJ spoke with Zalan via…
CPJ joins call to strengthen EU legislation on dual-use technologies
Yesterday, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven other human rights and free expression groups in writing a letter to European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan, requesting that human rights provisions be included in draft EU legislation concerning the exports of technology products such as surveillance software, which could be used for both civilian and…
CPJ, partner organizations call for strengthened EU accountability on press freedom
CPJ and partner organizations today sent recommendations on the European Rule of Law Mechanism to Didier Reynders, the European Union’s Justice Commissioner, and Věra Jourová, Vice President for Values and Transparency.