On 30 June 2025, Media Defence and the International Press Institute (IPI) co-hosted a webinar exploring the growing misuse of data protection laws to silence critical journalism.
The event brought together legal experts and investigative journalists to examine how privacy legislation – originally designed to safeguard individual rights – is increasingly being deployed in bad faith to stifle public-interest reporting.
A Growing Threat to Press Freedom
The discussion highlighted a concerning global trend: data protection frameworks are being manipulated to intimidate journalists, obstruct investigations, and force content takedowns.
These legal threats often take the form of SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation), designed not to seek justice but to exhaust journalists’ time, finances, and credibility.
Speakers shared first-hand experiences of facing such tactics and reflected on the urgent need for stronger legal safeguards and journalistic exemptions.
Key Takeaways
Participants gained valuable insights into:
- How data protection laws are being used strategically to suppress journalism
- The tension between privacy rights and press freedom in national and international legal frameworks
- The inadequacies of existing journalistic exemptions in protecting reporters
- Practical ways for legal professionals and media actors to resist misuse and advocate for reform
- First-hand case studies from journalists in Serbia and Turkey
Speakers
The discussion was moderated by Yuri Marchenko, Senior Legal Officer at Media Defence. He was joined by a diverse panel of experts:
- Melinda Rucz, PhD Researcher, University of Amsterdam
- Beatrix Vissy, PhD, Strategic Litigation Lead, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU)
- Bojana Jovanović, Deputy Editor, KRIK, Serbia
- Hazal Ocak, Freelance Investigative Journalist, Türkiye
- Grace Linczer, Membership and Engagement Manager, IPI
Watch the Recording
If you missed the webinar or would like to revisit the discussion, the full recording is now available.
