Cape Verde journalist Hermínio Silves summoned over reporting on alleged police abuses
New York, January 21, 2022 — Cape Verdean authorities must drop their investigation into journalist Hermínio Silves and should not compel journalists to disclose confidential information about their sources or criminalize the disclosure of information in the public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since early January, the attorney general’s office in Praia,…
Dozens of El Salvador journalists targeted with Pegasus spyware
In one of the most widespread known uses of Pegasus spyware to surveil journalists in the world, a forensic analysis of dozens of phones in El Salvador found that devices belonging to 35 people, mostly members of the press, were infected with between July 2020 and November 2021. “Suspecting you’ve been targeted isn’t the same…
Myanmar junta arrests 3 employees of Dawei Watch news website
Bangkok, January 20, 2022 – Myanmar authorities must immediately release the three recently arrested employees of the Dawei Watch news website and cease detaining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. During the night of January 18 to 19, authorities arrested Dawei Watch reporters Ko Zaw and Ma Moe Myint and web…
Brazilian journalist Daniel Carniel punched, kicked in Adesso TV office entrance
Rio de Janeiro, January 19, 2022 — Brazilian authorities must swiftly and thoroughly investigate the assault on journalist Daniel Carniel and ensure he can report safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At 12:47 p.m. on January 14, an unidentified man punched and kicked Carniel several times in his face and body at the…
Exiled Bangladeshi journalist Kanak Sarwar says sister’s detention won’t silence him
For years, exiled Bangladeshi journalist Kanak Sarwar advised his family members not to keep public profiles on Facebook, fearing his critical reporting would lead to harassment by supporters of the Awami League-led government. So he was alarmed when his sister, Nusrat Shahrin Raka, told him in September that someone had created a fake Facebook account…
Angolan public media journalists assaulted, branded ‘sellouts’ while covering nationwide strike
New York, January 18, 2022 – Angolan authorities should ensure the safety of journalists covering protests and investigate recent incidents of assault, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 10, six reporters working for news outlets TV Zimbo and TV Palanca were assaulted by unidentified people and forced to flee to safety while…
Why the UN’s push for a cybercrime treaty could imperil journalists simply for using the internet
Cybercrime is on the global agenda as a United Nations committee appointed to develop a treaty on the topic plans for its first meeting amid pandemic-related delays. The process is slated to take at least two years, but experts warn that such a treaty – initially proposed by Russia – could hand new tools to…
Albanian riot police attack journalists covering demonstration
Berlin, January 18, 2022 — Albanian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate police attacks on journalists covering a recent demonstration, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that reporters can cover events of public interest without fear of injury, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 8, in Tirana, the capital, hundreds of…
Authorities suspend Kashmir Press Club’s registration, take over premises
New Delhi, January 17, 2022 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on authorities in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to reverse moves in recent days to shut down the Kashmir Press Club, the largest elected trade body representing journalists in the territory. The authorities suspended the club’s registration and canceled the allotment for its…
Nigerian intelligence agency demands sources from Peoples Gazette news site
Abuja, January 14, 2022 — Nigerian authorities should immediately halt attempts to obtain confidential sources from the privately owned Peoples Gazette news website and allow its journalists to work without intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At around 1 p.m. on January 10, four officers of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) entered the…