Greek media freedom a growing concern

In recent years, the operating environment for free media has deteriorated sharply in Southeast Europe as harassment and intimidation of journalists has increased against a background of politically driven distortion of the market to favour outlets friendly to governments. Greece is not an exception. 

According to the World Press Freedom Index for 2022, Greece is the worst-ranking EU country when it comes to press freedom, and it now ranks 108th — down from 70th — on the index of 180 countries compiled by NGO,  Reporters Without Borders. 

Recent reports of  spyware attacks and wiretapping of journalists have started to attract international attention. Greek security services, using the spyware tool Predator, surveilled financial journalist Thanasis Koukakis and investigative journalist Stavros Malichudis under  ‘national security’ grounds. The government has now admitted the secret services’ activities but denied purchasing Predator. It also refuses to unveil the reasons why journalists were under surveillance.

Due to the fear of mass surveillance, Greek journalists and foreign correspondents have signed  an open letter asking the EU PEGA Committee of Inquiry, investigating Greece's, to examine possible illegal monitoring of their devices. Media organisations supported calls for the provision of funding from the European Union to help facilitate the testing of devices of journalists and other members of civil society in EU states, particularly in states where the authorities are unable or unwilling to help. 

BFMI welcomes the EU’s recently-launched European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The Act correctly identifies the growing threat of modern surveillance capabilities and includes specific rules about the use of spyware against media and journalists. 

However, the current draft of the EMFA allows member states to retain exemptions that permit the surveillance of journalists without the need for prior judicial review. The lack of legal oversight for use of advanced spyware on journalists is problematic and leaves the door wide open to further abuses.

The EU must take further steps to address the issue of journalist surveillance in Greece and in other member states and states with EU candidate status. The EU PEGA Committee of Inquiry must include strong recommendations for the regulation of the use of surveillance spyware and demand greater transparency from governments and state institutions. 

BFMI will keep monitoring media freedom situation in Greece.