EU member states have approved a bill allowing governments to spy on journalists in the name of "national security".
The Council published the last week a draft European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) that would expand media surveillance powers, even allowing the installation of spyware on journalists' phones.
The original purpose of EMFA was to safeguard the independence and pluralism of the media. The act, first presented by the Commission last September, was hailed as a major step forward in protecting press freedom.
However, earlier this month, the France added an exception to the ban on installing spyware against journalists, provided it is used in the interest of national security.
This exemption would allow member states to hack journalists' phones if they suspect their sources could be talking to criminals involved in anything the state perceives to be a threat.
A wide range of crimes, ranging from murder to theft and music piracy, will now be considered a legal justification for the use of tracking software on journalists.
Supporters of freedom of the press have warned that these last-minute changes could "open the door to all kinds of abuse".
Η European Ομοσπονδία Δημοσιογράφων, η οποία represents around 320.000 journalists from 45 countries, said it was "disturbed" by the "dangerous loopholes" in the Council's proposal.
"It shows contempt for the principles of media freedom," he said, arguing that such legislation would put journalists and their sources even more at risk.
Ο Christophe Deloire, γενικός γραμματέας των Δημοσιογράφων Χωρίς Σύνορα, έφτασε στο σημείο να πει ότι η προσcase μιας εξαίρεσης για την εθνική ασφάλεια στο EMFA είναι “κίνδυνος για τη journalism” και ότι “δηλητηριάζει αυτό τον νόμο εκ των έσω”.
A representative of the EU Commission he told reporters last weekteam ότι “δεν θα σχολιάσει κάθε βήμα της νομοθετικής διαδικασίας”, όταν ρωτήθηκε για αν το spyware θα μπορούσε να χρησιμοποιηθεί εναντίον δημοσιογράφων.
Η επιτροπή της ΕΕ θα μεταφέρει τώρα το νομοσχέδιο στο European Parliament για να συντάξουν το τελικό κείμενο.
