CPJ to EU: The time to act on spyware is now
The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the European Union to include effective legal safeguards in its planned legislation to rein in the abusive use of spyware against journalists. Negotiations on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), a draft EU law seeking to strengthen media freedom and pluralism in EU member states, are likely to…
CPJ joins call for Saudi Arabia not to host 2024 Internet Governance Forum
The Committee to Protect Journalists and more than 70 digital and human rights organizations on Thursday called on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reverse the decision for Saudi Arabia to host the 2024 annual Internet Governance Forum as the physical and digital security risks would severely undermine civil society’s participation. The joint letter highlights…
Journalists call on European Parliament to ban spyware
Some 500 journalists have called on members of the European Parliament since September 14 to introduce an absolute ban on surveillance of the press through spyware in the upcoming European Media Freedom Act. Spyware, which secretly takes over electronic devices without being detected, puts journalists around the world at risk of increased harassment and violence and…
CPJ calls for transparency in UK investigation into journalist surveillance
New York, July 25, 2023 – British authorities should make public the findings of an investigation into allegations that Northern Ireland police surveilled journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey in 2013 and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. “British authorities should ensure a thorough and transparent investigation into the…
At least 5 members of the press covering Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict targeted by Pegasus spyware: report
Stockholm, May 25, 2023—In response to a report released Thursday by a group of rights organizations alleging that Pegasus spyware was used to surveil at least five Armenian members of the press who covered the country’s military conflict with Azerbaijan, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Today’s report is yet another deeply…
CPJ joins call for Indian government to withdraw latest amendment to Information Technology Rules
Ahead of World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday, May 3, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined 16 press freedom and human rights organizations in a Tuesday statement calling on the Indian government to review and withdraw the overbroad provisions of the Information Technology Rules, 2021, and to withdraw the latest amendment to the rules, announced…
Digital safety: Using online platforms safely as a journalist
Journalists use a wide range of online platforms to distribute their work and communicate with sources and audiences. Platforms that allow interaction with others, like social media, wikis that allow collaborative editing, or content hosting services like WordPress and Substack, can all present security issues for you and others in your networks. There are, however,…
Dutch intelligence revealed to have surveilled investigative reporter Stella Braam for decades
Berlin, September 12, 2022—Dutch intelligence services should conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the surveillance of investigative reporter Stella Braam, destroy any data collected on her and her sources, and ensure that she will not be targeted in the future, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On August 28, Braam, a reporter with…
CPJ joins letters urging U.S. government to hold NSO Group accountable on spyware
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined human rights and press freedom organizations in separate actions in August urging the United States government to hold NSO Group accountable for providing Pegasus spyware to governments that have used the tool to secretly surveil journalists around the world. In a joint letter to Acting Solicitor General Brian Fletcher…
‘Permanent fear’: Togolese journalists on their lives 1 year after Pegasus Project revelations
One year after news broke about a list of over 50,000 phone numbers allegedly selected for surveillance with Pegasus spyware, journalists around the world continue to live and work with the fear that their phones can be used to track their conversations and penetrate all the personal and professional data stored on their devices. The…