Digital devices such as phones, cameras, laptops, and storage devices have become essential tools for journalists in conducting their work. They are used, for instance to conduct for research, recording, communicating with confidential sources and other journalists, and for publishing content. However, such devices often become subject to seizures and searches by authorities, in particular in situations perceived as sensitive, such as when covering protests[footnote]See for instance Media Defence, Reporting at Protests: Factsheet (undated), (accessible at https:\/\/www.mediadefence.org\/resource-hub\/resources\/reporting-at-protests-factsheet\/).[\/footnote] or at national borders[footnote]See for instance Article 19, European Court of Human Rights: Search of journalists\u2019 devices at border (31 August 2023), (accessible at https:\/\/www.article19.org\/resources\/european-court-of-human-rights-unwarranted-search-of-polish-journalists-violates-rights\/).[\/footnote]. As civil society organisations are documenting growing number of seizures and (forensic) searches of journalists\u2019 digital equipment,[footnote]For example in West Africa: MFWA, Seizure and Destruction of Journalsits\u2019 Digital Tools: The Data Privacy and Censorship implications (2 April 2020), (accessible at https:\/\/www.mfwa.org\/seizure-and-destruction-of-journalists-digital-tools-the-data-privacy-and-censorship-implications\/).[\/footnote] safeguarding digital security remains an important factor to ensure the functioning of the press. Practical tips for journalists covering protests can be found here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through searches and seizures, authorities obtain access to protected materials, including the identity of journalistic sources, thus endangering their safety and creating a chilling effect. The search of mobile devices is particularly intrusive due to the quantity and the sensitivity of the data accessed. Such measures infringe on the right to privacy (Article 8 ECHR) and freedom of expression (Article 10 ECHR) and can only be justified if they meet the cumulative criteria of the so-called three-part test. In addition, the search of journalists\u2019 home, workplace and the seizure of their material must be accompanied by adequate and effective procedural safeguards.[footnote]CoE Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, The Protection of Journalistic Sources, A Cornerstone of the Freedom of the Press (June 2018), (accessible at https:\/\/rm.coe.int\/factsheet-on-protection-of-sources-june2018-docx\/16808b3dd9).[\/footnote]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ECtHR has clarified that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cjournalists should enjoy a broad scope of protection, including a range of freedoms that are of functional relevance to the pursuit of their activities, such as: protection of confidential sources; protection against searches of professional workplaces and private domiciles and the seizure of materials, protection of news and information-gathering processes [\u2026]\u201d[footnote]ECtHR, Man and Others v. Romania<\/em>, App. No. 39273\/07, \u00a7131, 19 November 2019.[\/footnote]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Special attention must be paid to the protection of journalistic sources,[footnote]See for instance CoE Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (2000) 7 of the Committee to Ministers to member states on the right of journalists not to disclose their sources of information (8 March 2000), (accessible at https:\/\/rm.coe.int\/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices\/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=09000016805e2fd2).[\/footnote] a principle which, in the words of the ECtHR, is \u201cone of the cornerstones\u201d of press freedom and essential to enable the press to fulfil its public-watchdog role.[footnote]ECtHR, Sedletska v. Ukrain<\/em>e, App No. 42634\/18, \u00a7\u00a754-55, 1 April 2021; see also ECtHR, Telegraaf Media Nederland Landelijke Media B.V. and Others v. The Netherlands<\/em>, App No 39315\/06, \u00a7127 22 November 2012; ECtHR, Goodwin v. The UK<\/em>, App No. 17488\/90, \u00a739, 27 March 1996.[\/footnote]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ECtHR has applied these numerous cases, confirming for instance that the search of a journalist\u2019s laptop at a border crossing violated Article 8 ECHR due to the lack of effective and adequate safeguards in Russian domestic legislation and practice.[footnote]ECtHR, Ivashchenko v. Russia<\/em>, App. No. 61064\/10, \u00a7\u00a763-69, 93, 13 February 2018.[\/footnote] In Sorokin v. Russia<\/em>, the ECtHR found a violation of Article 10 ECHR after a journalist\u2019s flat and his electronic devices, which contained information related to his work, were searched without any procedural safeguards to protect the confidentiality of his sources.[footnote]Dirk Vorhoof, European Court of Human Rights: Sergey Sorokon v Russia (2022), (accessible at https:\/\/merlin.obs.coe.int\/article\/9587).[\/footnote] In Nagla v. Latvi<\/em>a, the ECtHR stressed that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cthe right of journalists not to disclose their sources cannot be considered a mere privilege to be granted or taken away depending on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of their sources, but is part and parcel of the right to information, to be treated with the utmost caution.\u201d[footnote]ECtHR, Nagla v. Latvia<\/em>, App No 73469\/10, \u00a797, 16 July 2013.[\/footnote]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Digital devices such as phones, cameras, laptops, and storage devices have become essential tools for journalists in conducting their work. They are used, for instance to conduct for research, recording, communicating with confidential sources and other journalists, and for publishing content. However, such devices often become subject to seizures and searches by authorities, in particular […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":1760,"menu_order":442,"template":"page-templates\/chapter.php","publication-category":[],"class_list":["post-1764","publication","type-publication","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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