Guatemalan journalist Quimy de León subject to smear campaign involving CPJ
Mexico City, April 16, 2025—A Facebook account named “Melvin Veum” launched a paid advertising smear campaign on Monday, April 14, that used CPJ’s logo to legitimize false narratives against Guatemalan journalist Quimy de León, director of independent news website Prensa Comunitaria and recipient of CPJ’s 2024 International Press Freedom Award. The post featured two images…
Brazilian reporter’s personal information, photos leaked following investigative work
São Paulo, March 20, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Brazilian authorities to swiftly and comprehensively investigate the leaking of UOL news journalist Thiago Herdy’s personal information and photos online following his investigative series on alleged emergency works contract irregularities in the municipality of São Paulo. “It is clear that posting details of Thiago Herdy’s private life on…
CPJ alarmed by India state government’s use of AI to monitor media
New Delhi, March 13, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges India’s Maharashtra state authorities to consult with journalists and media groups to ensure that its plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor media coverage and correct “negative” reports does not undermine press freedom. According to a March 6 Government Resolution approving the release of…
Bangladesh journalists face threats from attacks, investigations, and looming cyber laws
New York, February 14, 2025— Six months after a mass uprising ousted the increasingly autocratic administration of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladeshi journalists continue to be threatened and attacked for their work, along with facing new fears that planned legislation could undermine press freedom. Bangladesh’s interim government — established amid high hopes of political…
Free speech fears mount as Pakistan’s Senate approves bill criminalizing ‘false news’
New York, January 28, 2025—Pakistan’s Senate on Tuesday passed controversial amendments to the country’s cybercrime laws, which would criminalize the “intentional” spread of “false news” with prison terms of up to three years, a fine of up to 2 million rupees (USD$7,100), or both. The amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) were…
Indian journalist who exposed corruption targeted with online smear campaign
New Delhi, December 20, 2024—Indian journalist Anand Mangnale is the target of an online smear campaign that began on December 5 when Nishikant Dubey, a parliament member with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), linked Mangnale to an effort to “derail” the Indian government through foreign funding in Parliament. “Investigative journalism is crucial for uncovering…
CPJ, others urge India to drop sedition investigation into journalist Mohammed Zubair
The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday joined 10 other press freedom and human rights organizations in calling on Indian authorities to withdraw an October police complaint filed against award-winning journalist and fact-checker Mohammed Zubair in Ghaziabad city of northern Uttar Pradesh state. The complaint cites several provisions of India’s new penal code, the Bharatiya…
Journalists in the crossfire of Mozambique’s post-election crisis
New York, November 19, 2024—In the weeks since Mozambique’s October 9 general election — which was characterized by irregularities and in which the ruling Frelimo party claimed victory — the country has descended into chaos as security personnel engage in violent clashes with protestors disputing the results. News reports and statements by human rights groups…
CPJ, partners comment on U.S. Commerce Department’s proposed rules on surveillance technology export controls
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) joined eight human rights and digital rights organizations on October 15 to provide comments to the U.S. Commerce Department in response to its proposed rules to strengthen surveillance technology export regulations. The joint comments assess and offer recommendations for the Commerce Department to help curb the proliferation of such surveillance…
Kyrgyz authorities threaten to block 2 news outlets over report on president
New York, September 5, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kyrgyz authorities to drop their threats against two independent online news outlets over reports about President Sadyr Japarov on the grounds they contain “false information.” In a September 4 letter, Kyrgyzstan’s culture and information ministry threatened to block access to Novye Litsa in 24 hours unless it deleted an…