Press Freedom at Risk: The Democratic Cost of the…

Press Freedom at Risk: The Democratic Cost of the EU’s “Chat Control” Proposal

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) -on behalf of the MFRR- is alarmed by the draft of the EU Commission’s CSA Regulation, so-called “Chat Control”. We call on the Council to reject the new proposal. Furthermore, we urge Germany to remain committed to its previous stance of developing a human rights-based CSA Regulatory approach that would not infringe on the fundamental rights and freedoms, primarily right to privacy, and eventually press freedom.

10.10.2025

While it is intended as a solution to improve online safety, particularly against the sexual exploitation of children, the mechanism it envisages would allow authorities to force messaging, email, and hosting providers to scan private communications, whether or not there is specific suspicion. This would effectively open the door to the mass surveillance of personal conversations and weaken the technical protections that ensure privacy and confidentiality. If passed, it would also constitute an infringement of press freedom.

According to a recent open letter signed by more than 470 researchers from 34 countries, the proposal would create “unprecedented capabilities for surveillance, control, and censorship and has an inherent risk for function creep and abuse […].” The signatories argue that no filtering system can reliably distinguish illegal content from legitimate private messages at scale without generating false positives and yet the proposal would mandate just that.

Fundamentally, the proposed regulation infringes on the right to privacy. They further warn that scanning devices or communications before encryption, as outlined in parts of the draft, inherently undermines end-to-end encryption and introduces a single point of failure in the system. If encryption loses its trustworthiness, all users, including journalists, face a higher risk of exposure, hacking, or misuse of their data. This view is supported by a wide range of civil society and media freedom organisations.

While the Danish presidency continues to push this problematic legislation, the new German government held a discussion on October 9, but has not yet reached an agreement on whether it will maintain its safeguarding role for the right to privacy. Even though Germany will imminently need to take a stand on the question, both the Justice Department and the so-called Digital Minister remain silent on the matter. The German vote can be crucial here, as the EDRi analysis points out, threatening to swing the vote in favour of this harmful legislation.

ECPMF wants to remind Germany, and other EU council members, that press freedom and democratic accountability depend on the ability of journalists and citizens to communicate securely and without fear of surveillance. The proposed “Chat Control Regulation” would endanger this foundation by creating an infrastructure that allows authorities or private companies to inspect private messages. Such a mechanism is fundamentally incompatible with the principles of press freedom and democracy.

The danger does not lie only in potential misuse by authoritarian regimes. Once such a system exists, it can be exploited by any government, regardless of its political character. Numerous examples have shown that broad surveillance powers, such as the use of spyware, can easily be expanded or reinterpreted over time. Unchecked and broad powers can make a tool intended to detect criminal activity to quickly be redirected toward monitoring political speech or journalistic investigations.

Protecting children from abuse and exploitation is an unquestionable moral duty. However, measures to achieve this goal must respect the fundamental rights enshrined in European law. The chat control proposal, as it currently stands, fails to meet that standard. It would introduce disproportionate surveillance, weaken encryption and create risks that far outweigh its intended benefits.

The ECPMF therefore calls on the European institutions and member states, Germany in particular, to reject the chat control proposal in its current form. Efforts to improve online safety must be effective, proportionate and compatible with fundamental rights. ECPMF stands with journalists, researchers and human rights defenders across Europe in urging lawmakers to defend encryption, protect source confidentiality and uphold the freedoms that define open societies.

This statement was coordinated by ECPMF 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

What is the state of Freedom of Information (FOI)…

What is the state of Freedom of Information (FOI) in Europe, and what challenges do journalists encounter when seeking access to government data?

Although most European countries have laws guaranteeing the right to information, journalists often face major obstacles in practice. This report reviews 60 documented violations of FOI recorded on the Mapping Media Freedom Platform, analyses the legal frameworks across Europe, and draws on insights from interviews with FOI experts and defenders.

29.09.2025

The report finds that journalists’ requests for information across all focus countries were ignored, partially answered, or rejected. In some instances, authorities went to significant lengths to bar journalists from access by releasing heavily censored documents or contesting access requests before court.

Because there is no single, unified FOI law that standardises access across Europe, conditions vary widely depending on each country’s legislation and political environment. To illustrate these differences, the report takes a closer look at four case studies: Germany, Hungary, Malta, and Ukraine.

Key findings of the report

Germany: The country’s FOI framework is under pressure from the new government, elected in February 2025. Journalists face additional barriers due to administrative inefficiencies and malpractice.
Hungary: Access to information is heavily restricted as part of the ruling government’s broader efforts to undermine independent media and civil society. FOI is frequently curtailed through legal and political pressure.
Malta: The FOI Act itself is designed in a way that restricts transparency. Journalists often encounter long delays, while drawn-out legal proceedings further obstruct access to public information.
Ukraine: Wartime conditions significantly constrain access to information. Authorities face the challenge of balancing national security concerns with the public’s right to know, leaving journalists with limited access to government data.

Freedom of information is an essential right for journalists to do their work. Functioning FOI laws ensure that journalists can shine a spotlight on government misconduct, and facilitate the flow of information between the government and the public.

Download the Report

This report was compiled by the ECPMF 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

MFRR condemns police interference with journalistic work in Germany…

MFRR condemns police interference with journalistic work in Germany and calls for protection of all journalists

Since the beginning of September 2025, Mapping Media Freedom (MapMF) has registered two cases of unlawful police conduct against journalists at pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Ahead of demonstrations “All Together for Gaza”, announced for September 27, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners call on the police to respect the freedom of press.

26.09.2025

On 3 September, two journalists were intercepted by the police while covering a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Alexander Square in Berlin. Italian photojournalist Zaira Biagini was first approached by two police officers and then escorted away, with her press card visibly displayed at her hip. According to the journalist, police officers asked her to hand over photos she had taken during the demonstration for inspection, which she refused to do. In a statement to the nd-aktuell the police later said that they had asked this to ensure that no images of officers were included. After an identity check and legal instructions, she was released.

A similar situation occurred a few minutes later with journalist Ryad Aref. The journalist was approached by a police officer and, despite presenting his press card on police request, he was escorted away and surrounded by several police officers. In a statement to nd-aktuell the journalist reports that he was told by an officer: “You may film anywhere in Germany, just not in Berlin.” According to Aref, he was not given a reason at the time, only the information that he would receive notice by post. Nd-aktuell elaborates that this suggests that he may face charges. Berlin police told the daily that the incident involving Aref was “not known or made known” to them and that they could therefore not comment.

This behaviour amounts to interference in journalistic reporting, and restriction on the exercise of the journalistic profession. Both measures, restricting reporting as well as inspection of media equipment in Germany, and specifically Berlin, can only be imposed by a court, and only under specific circumstances. Furthermore, police officers who are performing a public duty should be transparent and not immune to potential public scrutiny. It is in the public interest to report on the way the police handle assemblies.

We believe that this is a part of a larger pattern, where journalists reporting on protests in Germany are often disproportionately scrutinised. MapMF has recorded 28 cases of police interference against 72 media workers during different types of protests in 2024 and 2025. 11 of these cases involved journalists reporting on the pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Furthermore, journalists, specifically freelance journalists and journalists in exile covering contentious issues in German society, such as pro-Palestinian protests, express a lack of trust in official security and monitoring mechanisms, noting that cases of pressures against them often go unreported. Addressing these concerns, the Council of Europe has called on the German government to uphold the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly equally for everyone.

MFRR partners want to firmly recall that it is the duty of the police to ensure that journalists are able to carry out their work without obstruction. This applies not only under normal circumstances but also – and especially – in tense protest situations.

Furthermore, we want to call on journalists to report these cases, and monitoring organisations to engage in objective and unbiased recording of all press freedom violations. No journalist should be pressured for doing their job.

Signed by:

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
International Press Institute (IPI)
OBC 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.

Event

Germany’s Election Aftermath

Germany’s election aftermath

20 June, 15:00 CET.

In the wake of Germany’s recent European election results, this webinar will focus on the consequences of increased far-right representation for media freedom. Former MEP Rebecca Harms will guide the discussion on the potential threats and necessary safeguards for independent journalism in this new political era.

Moderator

Rebecca Harms

Vice Chair of the Executive Board at ECPMF, former MEP

Speakers

Yann P. M. Rees

Researcher at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence, Bielefeld University

Philippe Meistermann

Head of Brussels Office, Bundesverband Digitalpublisher und Zeitungsverleger e. V.

Alexander Matschke

Team Lead BMZ Relations, DW Akademie

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Germany: Journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda physically assaulted by police while…

Germany: Journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda physically assaulted by police while covering police operation

The undersigned international media freedom, free expression, and journalist organisations call on the German authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the physical attack by Berlin police on Mexican video journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda while he was covering a police operation. The journalist who is working for the daily Berliner Zeitung, was not only prevented from reporting and physically abused but was also arbitrarily detained for hours without medical care. We urge authorities to take appropriate measures to ensure that the attack does not go unpunished and strengthen the protection of journalists who are vulnerable targets during demonstrations.

On 23 May 2024, Mexican journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda was at the Humboldt University’s Institute of Social Sciences to cover protests by pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied the building. The police intervened to evacuate the activists. Rosaslanda, who was filming the evacuation and had identified himself to the police as a member of the press, was physically attacked by a Berlin policeman. The incident was recorded by the journalist.

“The policeman suddenly attacked me from behind. He punched me twice in the face before pushing me to the ground with his knee behind my back. I kept shouting that I was a journalist. I even had my journalist card around my neck and my camera in one hand. They could see that I was documenting,” Rosaslanda told the MFRR partners. According to Rosaslanda, when he was on the ground, the policeman even said to him: “Freedom of the press is not without restrictions, your colleagues are outside and have done their work and are not handcuffed”. Although Rosaslanda tried to clarify the reason for his aggression by the police, he was told that he was the one who had attacked and resisted arrest. “I was then handcuffed for at least an hour and held in the building university for at least three hours for questioning”. Rosaslanda, who was injured, was refused immediate medical attention. The journalist had to be taken to hospital by one of his colleagues after the interrogation.

On 24 May 2024, the editors of the Berliner Zeitung strongly condemned the violence against Rosaslanda and the obstruction of his work by the Berlin police. “An attack on a journalist is an attack on the freedom of the press. This is all the more serious when the attack comes from the state,” wrote the Berliner Zeitung. Rosaslanda filed a lawsuit for assault and abuse of authority.

“We condemned and made the attack visible via our X account. We will also talk with the Berlin police and call for clarification on this attack. The Berlin police had only declared to various media that they “check” investigations,” emphasises Renate Gensch, regional chairwoman of the German Union of journalists (dju) in ver.di Berlin-Brandenburg and member of the national board of dju.

“As a Press representative, Ignacio Rosaslanda had only wanted to do his job. We condemn the violence against a press colleague by the Berlin police in the strongest possible terms. We also call for even stronger cooperation between the police and journalists’ associations and press representatives to prevent such incidents,” said Andrea Roth, deputy chairwoman of the Bavarian Journalists’ Association and EFJ Steering Committee member.

The MFRR partners are concerned about police violence because this unacceptable behaviour encourages and normalises hatred against journalists, who are already being targeted by protestors in pro-Palestine demonstrations, ranging from covering up or damaging cameras, harassment of the press, threats of physical violence, and assaults. Of the seven physical attacks on journalists during demonstrations, recorded by the Media Freedom Rapid Response platform, four journalists were injured at protests related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most recently, a freelance photographer was physically assaulted with a poster at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin and suffered a bleeding wound. Reporters from Sachsen Fernsehen were brutally beaten in Leipzig in January.

The MFRR partners stand in full solidarity with the journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda and all journalists subjected to pressure and threats to silence them. We urge the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to protect the journalists, including a swift and thorough investigation into the police attack on Rosaslanda.

Signed by:

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
The International Press Institute (IPI)

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Feindbild Journalist 8: Fear of self-censorship

In 2023, the number of physical attacks on journalists in Germany increased compared to 2022. Rising from 56 cases in 2022, 69 cases of physical attacks on journalists were verified by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) as part of the MFRR in 2023.

For more than four years, the annual number of attacks on journalists has been at a high level compared to before the coronavirus pandemic, when an average of about 23 cases per year were registered between 2015 and 2019. The assumption that the number of attacks on journalists in Germany would decrease with the marginalisation of the “Querdenker” movement and the associated decline in the number of rallies has not materialised. Patrick Peltz, co-author of the study, said:

Indeed, the number of attacks in this context is declining. However, the figures from the Feindbild studies suggest that in certain, partially overlapping milieus and the resulting common protest structures, mistrust of the media has increasingly developed into hostility towards the media, which also has an increasingly pronounced behavioural side. Hostility towards the media no longer ‘only’ manifests itself in the ‘Lügenpresse’ cries, insults and threats that have become part of journalists’ everyday lives, but also in an increased number of violent attacks on journalists over the past four years.

Berlin replaces Saxony as the frontrunner for 2023 in terms of physical attacks on journalists compared to the previous year. Although Saxony recorded 13 cases, more than in the previous year (11 cases), Berlin recorded a significantly higher figure with 25 assaults. Of the 25 cases, 21 occurred in the context of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Bavaria follows with six cases.

Focus on local journalism: security concerns have an impact on critical reporting

In cooperation with the Federal Association of German Newspaper Publishers (BDZV), ECPMF continued to monitor threats to local journalism in 2023. Compared to the previous year, the number of physical attacks on local journalists has declined. A total of seven physical and eight non-physical attacks were registered. In 2022, the number of physical attacks was 12. Some of the local journalists who were the target of physical and non-physical attacks in 2023 were also affected in the past. It was already pointed out in the previous study that a lack of anonymity in the local area can pose a security problem for local journalists.

A closer analysis of the state of Saxony, which accounts for a third of all registered cases since 2015 (117 out of 390), also reveals a previously underexposed phenomenon: self-censorship. Local journalists who work in areas where the far-right’s territorial capture is highly pronounced and reaches into the so-called centrist part of society report that certain topics are omitted locally due to a perceived permanent threat situation. Patrick Peltz said:

Reports from local journalists that they themselves or colleagues refrain from reporting on certain actors and movements out of concern for their safety is a very worrying development for press freedom in Germany. Critical reporting is particularly important ahead of the many upcoming local, state and European elections in Saxony this year, in which numerous right-wing extremists are running. ‘Blind spots’ in reporting make it easier for these actors to present themselves as harmless and benevolent candidates and thus attract the attention of people who feel neglected by the established parties.

It is important to further examine how pronounced the phenomenon of self-censorship already is and to what extent these reports can be generalized to other regions in Saxony and other federal states where the far-right capture of territory is also pronounced and a corresponding electoral milieu is very dominant.

Focus on countermeasures

Journalists, associations, media companies and many state institutions have developed countermeasures in response to the increased threats of recent years. In some cases, learning effects can be observed. While an increasing number of media houses offer their employees psychological counselling services, associations and organisations continuously initiate new support offerings, such as last year’s Helpline project. Police media protection has also tended to improve overall, although its quality can vary greatly. The committees of the Conference of Interior Ministers continue to advocate a new version of the Code of Conduct for Police and Media. Time and again, journalists report cases in which they were not adequately protected or were themselves the target of police measures. Overall, there is still a considerable need to improve existing services and create further ones. Alina Haynert, co-author of the study, said:

Even though we are seeing improvements in many areas – both from the state and non-state side – there are still significant gaps in protection and support. These affect freelance journalists in particular, who often do not seem to benefit from the protection structures of media houses. At the same time, they are disproportionately affected by physical attacks.

Feindbild Journalist 8: Fear of self-censorship

Key findings

Attacks increased again: With 69 attacks, the number of cases is on the rise again.

Demonstrations – the most dangerous workplace: 77 percent of all cases occurred at demonstrations (53 out of 69 cases), 40 percent of them at pro-Palestinian assemblies (21 out of 53 cases).
Precarious employment relationships: At least 59 percent of cases involved a freelance employment relationship (41 out of 69 cases).
Local assaults: Seven physical and eight non-physical attacks on local journalists.
Saxony – hotspot of far-right violence: 79 percent of attacks against media professionals since 2015 have come from the far-right spectrum (92 out of 117 cases).
“Blind spots” in Saxony: In Saxony, there are signs of self-censorship and an increasing lack of reporting as a result of the extreme far-right capture of territory.
Focus on Berlin: Berlin is the most affected federal state with 25 cases.
Overall view 2015-2023: ECPMF documented 390 cases.

Read the study [DE]

This report was coordinated by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) 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.

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Feindbild Journalist 7: Berufsrisiko Nähe

After setting two negative records in a row, the number of attacks on media professionals in Germany fell in 2022. The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) recorded 56 assaults throughout the year; 27 fewer than in 2021.

According to the analysis of the researchers, the decline in attacks is largely due to the marginalisation of the lateral thinking movement protests. In the previous year, the largest proportion of assaults (77 percent) had taken place around demonstrations against COVID-19 measures. In 2022, that proportion dropped to 48 percent. However, the decline cannot be read as an indication that the security situation is easing. At 56 verified attacks, the attacks are four times that of the pre-pandemic level of 2019, when there were 14 attacks.

Outrage movements such as lateral thinking or previously Pegida are catalysts of press hostility. How high the number of attacked journalists in Germany is, depends largely on the mobilisation ability of these protestors. Hatred of the press serves them as an ideological clasp to keep their heterogeneous followers together,” says Martin Hoffmann, co-author of the study.

In a comparison of the German states, Saxony recorded the most assaults with eleven cases. This is the fifth time since 2015 that the Free State has recorded the most annual assaults. In 2022, Berlin followed with nine registered assaults. Bavaria and Thuringia had eight each. An increased spread of assaults to the western German states, which was first observed in 2021, did not continue last year, according to the ECPMF analysis.

Focus on local journalism: When proximity becomes a security problem

Compared to the previous year, the number of physical attacks on local journalists increased threefold. A total of twelve physical attacks were verified; in the previous year, four local media professionals were affected. According to the analysis, local media workers are exposed to a particular threat because they cannot disappear into anonymity like their colleagues in larger cities. In some cases, anti-press citizens demonstrated directly in front of editorial offices or tried to intimidate journalists in front of their private homes.

The ‘lying press’ accusations that have persisted for years have led to the current level of threats. We heard in many interviews that media professionals take security precautions when reporting on demos or that they avoid potentially dangerous situations altogether,” says Annkathrin Pohl, co-author of the study. “What is frightening to note, however, is that for some, the hostility has not only changed the way they work, but their own attitude toward the job: from what used to be their dream job to the ‘shittiest job’.

Focus on countermeasures

Journalists, associations, and media companies, as well as many state institutions, have now developed countermeasures. The initiative of some interior ministries is a positive development. In Saxony and several other German states, increasingly comprehensive media protection concepts are being implemented to better protect media professionals from attacks at gatherings. In addition, public broadcasters in particular, as well as larger private media companies, have taken a whole range of protective measures for their employees, such as escorts, de-escalation seminars, or legal support services. However, Jessica Jana Dutz, co-author of the study, still sees many gaps:

Freelance journalists in particular are still not adequately protected in Germany. There are too few low-threshold, low-cost offers of protection for them. Journalists’ unions and initiatives are trying to fill this gap but even they have limited resources and cannot reach everyone.

Read the study [DE]

Feindbild Journalist 7

Key findings

No new negative record: with 56 attacks, the number of cases in 2022 declined since the previous year.
Demonstrations – the most dangerous workplace: 80 percent of all cases occurred at protests (45 of 56 cases), of which 60 percent (27 of 45 cases) occurred at protests related to COVID.
Trend stopped: the spread of attacks to the western German states has been interrupted (for now).
Focus on Saxony: with eleven cases, the Free State is again the most frequently affected federal state.
Assaults in the local area: with 12 assaults in 2022, three times as many local journalists were assaulted as in 2021.
Record month: 23 cases were recorded in January 2022 alone (41 percent of total cases), more than any other month.
2015-2022 total: ECPMF documented 321 cases.

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Germany: Misuse of funds at RBB highlights need for…

Germany: Misuse of funds at RBB highlights need for greater accountability in publicly funded media

The partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) denounce the obvious misuse of public funds by Patricia Schlesinger, former director of Berlin’s public broadcaster Radio Berlin Brandenburg (RBB). We welcome her instant dismissal while demanding a thorough investigation and calling for improved accountability in publicly funded media.

On 15 August, the Rundfunkrat, which supervises the broadcaster, decided to instantly dismiss Ms. Schlesinger following her decision to step back from her position as director on 7 August. The dismissal was made in response to a wave of allegations related to mismanagement of public funds. Among the allegations are the allocation of a €100,000 consultancy contract to Schlesinger’s husband, Gerhard Spörl, and an alleged €1,400,000 renovation of the director’s office floor. It was also revealed that Schlesigner recently received a 16% pay rise, which left her with an annual salary totalling €303,000. These revelations have come forth at a time when the financially-strapped RBB has been cutting positions and programming costs.

While the MFRR reiterates EFJ’s call for the German authorities to conduct a proper investigation into suspicions of corruption, the partners also express concern at the wider reputational damage it has already caused to RBB. This particular concern has been backed up by reports of abuse directed at RBB journalists and media workers in the wake of the scandal. According to t-online.de, “Criticism, insults and abuse have become the order of the day” following the accusations against Schlesinger scandal have put a great strain on the journalists’ work. “The vast majority of them are freelance reporters, who encounter viewers on the streets who do not hold back their criticism and are also carried away by insults and abuse.”

In addition, the reputational damage will have a wider impact on public service media both in Germany and across Europe. In recent years, governments throughout Europe have been cutting funding to public service media and questioning its funding system. The compulsory broadcasting licence fee has been a source of debate, with the German Government set to discuss renegotiating the fee with the Pubweb network of broadcasters in the coming months. In addition, distrust of and negativity towards public service media in Germany has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with opposition groups accusing public service media of bias and pushing a particular agenda. At a time when support for public interest media is at a major crossroads, Ms. Schlesinger’s actions will inevitably have a negative impact on its reputation in Germany.

We fully support RBB’s journalists who continue working to offer a vital public service despite the ongoing controversy and condemn any attacks and abuse levelled at them as a result of the scandal. We also ask the German Public Service Media to substantially strengthen the auditing bodies and compliance departments within the broadcasters. The controlling bodies must be adequately staffed and resourced to balance the power of the directorate. Ms. Schlesinger’s case shows that without addressing these systemic issues, there remains a clear risk of misuse.

Signed by:

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

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Feindbild Journalist 6 – Hatred on the Doorstep

(Leipzig, 14/06/2022) — The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response, (MFRR) has published the English translation of the 2021 iteration of “Feindbild”, an annual study into politically-motivated violence against journalists in Germany. “Feindbild 6 – Hatred on the Doorstep” was first published in German in April 2022.

Key findings: A new negative record

As part of the study, ECPMF recorded a record number of 83 physical attacks on journalists and media workers, an increase of 14 from the previous year. These attacks affected 124 media workers or teams, although the researchers assume that the number of unreported cases is high. Co-author of the report, Martin Hoffmann said:

Since we started recording cases in 2015, we have never verified so many violent attacks against media professionals as in 2021. Serious threats and physical attacks are part of the everyday work of more and more journalists. This does not remain without consequences. A growing number of journalists are therefore withdrawing from covering demonstrations.

Demonstrations and protests were the context in which attacks against the press happened most frequently in Germany. 75% took place at demonstrations of pandemic-related protest networks such as Querdenken.

As in previous years, Saxony remains the largest offender when it comes to politically-motivated violence against journalists, with 23 recorded incidents in 2021. However, this year marked an increase in the number of attacks taking place in western Germany.

The political background of the attackers in 2021 was highly varied. 39% of attackers came from right-wing perpetrators, 1% from the left, and 39% could not be attributed to any particular political stance.

Attacks increased towards the end of 2021, with 19 recorded in December and 18 in January 2022 — the highest number recorded in any two months since the start of the research in 2015.

Support from BDZV

For the first time, the German Federal Association of Digital Publishers and Newspaper Publishers (BDZV) supported the production of the Feindbild study. Speaking of the report’s findings, Mr. Sigrun Albert, General Manager of BDZV said:

Unfortunately, the new Feindbild study confirms our assumption that local journalists are increasingly being targeted by violent attacks because of their work. Hateful attacks and massive digital threats are also at least as disturbing.

BDZV will partner with and support ECPMF to implement long-term monitoring of attacks facing journalists in Germany and to develop counter-measures in response. Dr. Lutz Kinkel, Managing Director of ECPMF, said:

What we need is more protection for media professionals, more consistent punishment of criminal offences, and more media literacy education. The partnership with BDZV enables us to explore and analyse the problems in the local space more intensively in the future. We are looking forward to the collaboration.

Download the report

This report 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, Candidate Countries and Ukraine.

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Germany: MFRR expresses concern over rising attacks against journalists…

Germany: MFRR expresses concern over rising attacks against journalists covering protests

The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) today express their concern about the increasing number of attacks against journalists across Germany, particularly in the context of anti-vaccine demonstrations. We call for better safety measures and protection as well as thorough investigations of attacks against journalists covering such demonstrations. Moreover, preventative measures are needed to stop such attacks from happening. Finally, we encourage media workers to report press and media freedom violations.

Already in 2020, reported attacks against journalists had more than doubled compared to the previous year. This dramatic increase to 255 aggressions can be attributed to the regular demonstrations taking place across Germany against government Covid-19 measures, including planned mandatory vaccination. According to MFRR data, right-wing extremist rallies are also particularly hostile environments for media professionals.

From January 1 until December 15, 2021, the MFRR recorded 108 violations to press and media freedom in Germany, with 85 of these violations taking place as attacks against journalists during demonstrations. Yet, the real figure is expected to be much higher: due to safety reasons, many journalists choose not to go public when they receive threats. A common misperception is also that attacks, particularly online harassment, are simply “part of the job”. The MFRR aims to reverse such attitudes and joins the German Journalists Association (DJV) in urging journalists and media professionals to press charges, should they receive threats or be subjected to other kinds of violence.

During demonstrations, journalists are frequently physically attacked, their equipment is targeted and insults and threats are also common. Freelance photojournalist Aaron Karasek, who has been subjected to repeated violence during protests, shared on Twitter: “At this point, there are almost no Querdenker demonstrations where I or colleagues do not get attacked.” Due to such experiences, TV crews from large broadcasters now usually go to Querdenker demonstrations with security guards. While this might create a feeling of safety, it does not always prevent journalists from being attacked, as for instance the aggression against an SWR TV team accompanied by three security staff shows. Further, a lack of resources does not allow all journalists to make use of such support.

Against this backdrop, we have repeatedly called for better police response and training in order to guarantee the safety of journalists. However, as recent protests – such as in Dresden – have shown, police officers even obstruct journalists in their work when they should be protecting them. The MFRR has recorded physical attacks, threats, confiscation of materials, reporting restrictions and detentions against journalists and media professionals. In 26 alerts on the Mapping Media Freedom (MMF) platform in 2021, police or state security were reported as the sources of attacks. This attitude targeting members of the media is unacceptable and the MFRR stresses the need to actively support press and media freedom.

The German Journalists Union (dju in ver.di) and the German Journalists’ Association (DJV) have repeatedly demanded to increase the number of police officers at demonstrations to better focus on the needs of journalists. The Federal Ministry of Interior indicated that safety procedures will be improved. Right now, the police are often highly understaffed and overwhelmed. While they frequently set up separate areas for media workers to be shielded from aggressions, journalists criticise that such zones separate them from the demonstrations. Strategic de-escalation and unhindered press work, in contrast to reported tedious press card checks and journalists’ expulsions, are desirable.

Another major problem, that often goes hand in hand with anti-Covid-measures demonstrations, is the use of online messaging application Telegram, to plan attacks and exchange information about journalists. The police should do everything in their power to punish these unacceptable acts and application managers should take reports of plans of violence on their platforms seriously and manage the groups according to their community standards. While it is difficult to regulate Telegram, keyword Network Enforcement Act, investigative authorities still have options to counter the spread of calls for violence there. Threatening cases on online platforms involving journalists should be prioritised.

While the amount of attacks against journalists in Germany is particularly alarming, it should also be noted that aggressions during demonstrations and threats via Telegram channels are on the rise in various European countries, such as in France, Italy, the Netherlands or Luxembourg. The MFRR is closely monitoring these violations and calls on the governments and police to take preventive measures and to thoroughly investigate these attacks.

Good practice examples to better promote a safer environment for journalists are listed below:

In the Netherlands, the police and the public prosecutor’s office give priority to incidents concerning journalists. Following an agreement in 2018, concrete guidelines and training have been offered to law-enforcement services to better respond to threats against the media. A hotline enabling journalists to report acts of aggression has been set up.
In the UK, the government has adopted a national action plan to protect journalists from abuse and harassment. Every police force is to deal with a designated journalist safety liaison officer, and at national level a senior police officer will take responsibility for crime against journalists at national level.
In Sweden, the government has commissioned the Swedish Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority to produce a training and information resource on support for journalists exposed to threats. The government has also commissioned Linnæus University to build a knowledge centre and a OBCservice offering advice and support to journalists and editorial offices, including freelancers, small offices and smaller production companies.