Archiv: Pressefreiheit / freedom of the press


27.08.2024 - 13:00 [ Reporters Without Borders ]

Dear High Representative / Vice-President Borrell and Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis,

(August 26, 2024)

Our organizations are writing to request that the European Union take action against the Israeli authorities’ unprecedented killing of journalists and other violations of media freedom, in contravention of Israel’s human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) obligations. These are part of widespread and systematic abuses committed by Israeli authorities in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and elsewhere, as documented or acknowledged by Israeli, Palestinian and international NGOs, UN experts, the International Court of Justice, and in a request for arrest warrants by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. These violations should trigger the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and further EU targeted
sanctions against those responsible. Regrettably, the EU 27 governments are yet to unanimously acknowledge, attribute, and condemn the Israeli forces’ crimes in Gaza.

27.08.2024 - 11:17 [ Reporters Without Borders ]

RSF and 59 other organisations call on EU to suspend Association Agreement with Israel

“It is time to move from verbal condemnations to action. Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement stipulates that their relations are based on an essential component, which is respect for human rights and democratic principles. The Israeli government is clearly trampling on this article. The EU, which is Israel’s leading trade partner, must draw the necessary conclusions from this and must do everything to ensure that the Netanyahu government stops massacring journalists and respects the right to information and press freedom by opening media access to Gaza. The credibility of the EU is at stake.“

27.08.2024 - 10:54 [ RFI.fr ]

Dozens of media associations call on EU to suspend treaty with Israel

„In response to the unprecedented number of journalists killed and other repeated press freedom violations by the Israeli authorities since the start of the war with Hamas, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and 59 other organisations are calling on the European Union to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel and to adopt targeted sanctions against those responsible“, the groups said in a joint statement.

The call came ahead of a meeting by EU foreign ministers in Brussels on 29 August.

27.08.2024 - 10:45 [ International Press Institute ]

60 organizations urge EU action against Israel’s attacks on press freedom

In an urgent appeal, 60 global press freedom and human rights organizations, including the International Press Institute (IPI), are calling on the European Union to take decisive action against Israel for its escalating violations of media freedom and killing of journalists. In a letter addressed to EU leaders, the signatories urge the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the imposition of targeted sanctions on responsible Israeli officials.

25.04.2024 - 09:00 [ Multipolar Magazin ]

Per Behördenkontrolle zur „Medienfreiheit“

Mit einem neuen EU-Gesetz entsteht ein Gremium für Mediendienste, das der EU-Kommission unterstellt ist, aber unabhängig agieren soll. Erstmals reguliert die Europäische Union damit auch die gedruckte Presse. „Desinformation“ steht besonders im Fokus. Kritiker sehen die Meinungsfreiheit bedroht und fürchten die Legalisierung einer Überwachung von Journalisten.

25.04.2024 - 08:55 [ Norbert Häring ]

„Was an Pressefreiheit übrig bleibt, das existiert dann nur noch von Brüssels Gnaden“

23. 04. 2024 | Aus Anlass der Zustimmung des EU-Parlaments zum orwellianisch benannten „Medienfreiheitsgesetz“ hat Multipolar eine ausführliche und sehr kritische Analyse von Helge Buttkereit veröffentlicht, die ich zur Lektüre empfehle.

25.04.2024 - 08:33 [ Junge Welt ]

Meinungs- und Pressefreiheit: »Kritik zum Verstummen bringen«

„Aufgabe des Gremiums ist es auch, Maßnahmen gegen ausländische Medien zu koordinieren, die die öffentliche Sicherheit schwer gefährden. Das läuft letztlich auf Zensur hinaus, weil man es als Gefährdung der öffentlichen Sicherheit ansieht, wenn aus dem Ausland heraus Propaganda betrieben wird. Stichwort Staatssender, Stichwort RT Deutsch. Natürlich verbreitet jedes Land im Sinne seiner eigenen Interessen Informationen im In- und Ausland. Wenn wir aber anfangen, den Zugang unserer eigenen Bürger zu ausländischen Informationsquellen abzuschneiden, ist das nicht vereinbar mit den Grundsätzen eines freien Landes und eines mündigen Bürgers. Ich halte es für den völlig falschen Weg, unter dem vermeintlichem Deckmantel des Schutzes der öffentlichen Sicherheit Auslandsmedien zensieren zu wollen. „

21.02.2024 - 18:40 [ Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte ]

FragDenStaat-Chefredakteur Arne Semsrott nach Berichterstattung über Gerichtsverfahren angeklagt: Verfassungswidrige Strafnorm gefährdet die Pressefreiheit

Berlin, 20. Februar 2024 – Die Staatsanwaltschaft Berlin hat gegen Arne Semsrott, Chefredakteur von FragDenStaat, wegen der verbotenen Mitteilung über Gerichtsverhandlungen Anklage zum Landgericht Berlin erhoben. Die Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF) und Strafverteidiger Lukas Theune unterstützen Semsrott und FragDenStaat in dem gegen ihn geführten Strafverfahren. Kernpunkt der Verteidigung ist, dass die Strafnorm verfassungswidrig ist und gegen die Pressefreiheit verstößt.

Arne Semsrott hatte im August 2023 über die Ermittlungsmaßnahmen gegen die Letzte Generation und den unabhängigen Sender Radio Dreyeckland berichtet und im Zuge dessen mehrere relevante Gerichtsentscheidungen veröffentlicht. Er riskierte damit bewusst Strafanzeigen. Die Staatsanwaltschaft Berlin leitete ein Ermittlungsverfahren gegen ihn ein und erhob nun in dem Komplex zur Letzten Generation Anklage, wegen der besonderen Bedeutung des Falls sogar zum Landgericht. Die einschlägige Strafnorm (§ 353d Nr. 3 StGB) verbietet ohne Ausnahme jede Veröffentlichung des Wortlauts von Dokumenten eines laufenden Strafverfahrens vor der Hauptverhandlung. Das erschwert die Berichterstattung über Strafverfahren und schränkt damit die Pressefreiheit unverhältnismäßig ein.

18.02.2024 - 04:00 [ Freedom of the Press Foundation ]

Tell the Biden administration to drop the Assange case now

The U.S. Department of Justice claims that Assange broke the law by receiving classified documents from a source, speaking with that source, possessing the documents, and publishing some of them. In other words, things journalists at news outlets around the country do every day.

If Assange is convicted under the Espionage Act, there will be nothing to stop the government from prosecuting other journalists who publish government secrets.

Take action to protect press freedom: Tell the Biden administration to drop the Assange case now.

06.10.2023 - 09:45 [ Netzpolitik.org ]

Dänischer Geheimdienstchef und Ex-Minister vor Gericht

Die Staatsanwaltschaft wirft dem derzeit suspendierten Geheimdienstchef Lars Findsen und dem ehemaligen Verteidigungsminister Claus Hjort Frederiksen vor, Staatsgeheimnisse verraten und öffentlich der Presse zugänglich gemacht zu haben.(…)

Die Frankfurter Rundschau berichtet, dass Snowdens Enthüllungen 2013 ans Licht brachten, dass die NSA das globale Datenkreuz Kopenhagen für ihre Zwecke nach Belieben anzapfen konnte. Über die Datenzentrale des dänischen Auslandsgeheimdiensts FE hätten die US-Geheimdienste unter anderem Telefonate von Angela Merkel aus dem Bundeskanzleramt mitgehört.

Findsen und Frederiksen hingegen dürfen die genauen Vorwürfe nicht nennen, obwohl diese bereits öffentlich sind.

29.09.2023 - 08:18 [ Wikileaks / Twitter ]

„Press freedom does not exist while my husband Julian Assange is in jail“ „Press freedom groups and journalists recognise that the fate of the press is tied up with what happens to Julian“ | Stella Assange @Stella_Assange

28.09.2023 - 13:53 [ Le Monde ]

Ariane Lavrilleux en garde à vue : « L’exercice même du métier de journaliste est en péril », alertent des sociétés de journalistes

(21 septembre 2023)

Signataires : les sociétés de journalistes et de rédacteurs de l’AFP, Arrêt sur images, BFM-TV, Challenges, Courrier international, Epsiloon, Franceinfo.fr, FranceTVinfo, France 3 rédaction nationale, France Télévisions rédaction nationale, Indigo Publications, L’Express, L’Humanité, L’Informé, L’Obs, L’Usine nouvelle, La Tribune, La Vie, LCI, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Parisien, Le Point, Les Echos, Libération, M6, Marianne, Mediapart, NRJ, Paris Match, Public Sénat, Premières Lignes, Radio France, RFI, RMC, RTL, Sud Ouest, Télérama, TF1, 60 Millions de consommateurs, ainsi que l’association Profession : pigiste.

28.09.2023 - 13:42 [ Netzpolitik.org ]

Pressefreiheit: Frankreich nimmt Journalist*innen in die Mangel

Im Fokus der aktuellen Debatte steht die französische Journalistin Ariane Lavrilleux. Sie deckte 2021 für das Magazin „Disclose“ auf, dass der französische Militärgeheimdienst DRM mit der ägyptischen Regierung zusammenarbeitete und dabei auch indirekt an Hinrichtungen beteiligt war.

Wegen dieser Recherche wurde die Journalistin am Dienstag festgenommen. Beamte des französischen Inlandsgeheimdienstes durchsuchten ihre Wohnung sowie ihre digitalen Geräte. Anschließend wurde Lavrilleux auf einer Polizeiwache verhört und kam erst nach 39 Stunden wieder frei. Die Sicherheitsbehörden sind wohl auch auf der Suche nach Lavrilleuxs Quelle. Dieser drohen laut Süddeutscher Zeitung wegen Landesverrats bis zu sieben Jahre Haft.

19.07.2023 - 20:21 [ Newsweek ]

President Biden Is Trampling the Bill of Rights by Prosecuting Julian Assange | Opinion

When I met with Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, I was most impressed by his intelligence, his compassion, and his belief in the power of truth. „If wars can be started by lies,“ he said, „peace can be started by truth.“ Now, Assange is being prosecuted for the publication of the Afghan War Diary and the Iraq War Logs, uncovering war crimes, torture, and civilian deaths perpetrated by the United States government in our name and with our money. Assange‘s award-winning publications have been cited as a crucial factor in changing public perception of these wars, which have cost trillions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of innocent lives, and displaced 37 million people.

In other words, the truth matters.

12.07.2023 - 06:20 [ Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor ]

EU’s shocking greenlighting of spyware against journalists is extremely dangerous for media freedom

In the first place, proposing to give governments the power to spy on journalists’ phones and computers puts journalists’ sources at risk of identification and provides a high deterrent for “whistleblowers”, threatening the fundamental confidentiality of journalists’ sources and fostering a climate of impunity out of the fear of speaking up and being surveilled.

Secondly, through this new provision, the Council strongly incentivizes the deployment of threatening spyware based solely on Member States’ discretion, despite the numerous recent high-profile scandals involving the use of malware, such as Pegasus and Predator, to subtly surveil journalists and politicians’ communications, suppress dissent and undermine democracy.

12.07.2023 - 05:59 [ Spiked ]

The EU’s Orwellian crackdown on the media

The way the EU uses the term ‘media pluralism’ is a kind of Orwellian doublespeak. It means the opposite of what it implies. The EU doesn’t want pluralism – it wants to concentrate power in Brussels. It doesn’t want freedom – it wants to curb free expression and impose technocratic values from above. And it wants to do all of this without any public debate or accountability.

05.07.2023 - 12:04 [ Fox News ]

Biden likely violated First Amendment during COVID-19 pandemic, federal judge says

A U.S. District Court judge is temporarily preventing White House officials from meeting with tech companies about social media censorship, arguing that such actions in the past were likely First Amendment violations.

The Tuesday injunction by Louisiana Judge Terry A. Doughty was in response to recent lawsuits from Louisiana and Missouri attorneys general. The suits allege that the White House coerced or „significantly encourage[d]“ tech companies to suppress free speech during the COVID-19 pandemic.

23.06.2023 - 12:29 [ Haaretz ]

Top News Editor at Netanyahu Trial: ‘No One Got the Treatment Like He Did’

(21.06.2023)

At the start of the hearing in Netanyahu’s ongoing trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, the three judges summoned both sides’ lawyers to their chamber for a private consultation. However, they declined to say what the discussion had been about.

(…)

He also said that then-editor in chief Avi Alkalay routinely altered articles in ways that benefited Netanyahu. “There were also articles that were shelved,” he added.

Asked by prosecutor Yael Shahaf how Alkalay explained his behavior, Borochov said Alkalay told him “that he coordinates things with the Prime Minister’s Office,” and that if “things didn’t go the way they should,” he would be replaced with an editor in chief chosen by Netanyahu

22.06.2023 - 20:45 [ New York Times ]

Nuclear Secrets, a Compost Heap and the Lost Documents Daniel Ellsberg Never Leaked

(April 20, 2023)

Daniel Ellsberg — who died Friday at 92 — fully expected to spend the rest of his life in prison after he leaked the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times and The Washington Post in 1971. The documents revealed decades of government lies and mistakes about the war in Vietnam, and eventually, they helped end it.

The charges against Ellsberg were ultimately dismissed, but he had a secret: The Pentagon Papers were only supposed to be the beginning. Alongside the documents about Vietnam, he’d copied thousands of pages of other documents about America’s nuclear war planning that he believed would shock the public conscience. But a series of mishaps kept those documents from ever coming to light.

22.06.2023 - 20:30 [ Mehdi Hasan, Host, @mehdihasanshow on @MSNBC / Nitter ]

„We are at this moment on a road to Hell.“ I discussed the Espionage Act, Julian Assange, and his own experiences with the Pentagon Papers, with the one and only @DanielEllsberg on my @MSNBC show tonight:

(May 8, 2023)

22.06.2023 - 20:14 [ EuropeanConservative.com ]

EU Members Want Option To Spy on Journalists in the Name of National Security

According to Politico, the latest text of the draft law from June 16th states that the word “spyware” has been replaced by the term “intrusive surveillance software” and that at least one delegation is wanting the inclusion of a passage noting member states having sole responsibility for their own national security.

The new law comes after several scandals across Europe involving spyware, such as the Pegasus spyware scandal, in which both politicians and journalists were targeted by the software, which was created by the Israel-based NSO Group.

22.06.2023 - 20:09 [ Netzpolitik.org ]

EU-Staaten schwächen Gesetz zum Schutz der Pressefreiheit

Der Rat der EU-Staaten hat heute seinen Entwurf für das geplante Europäische Medienfreiheitsgesetz beschlossen. Darin hat der Rat den vorgesehenen Schutz von Journalist:innen vor staatlicher Überwachung deutlich abgeschwächt. Nach dem Vorschlag der Kommission sollte das Gesetz eigentlich europaweit ein weitgehendes Verbot von Überwachungsmaßnahmen, Inhaftierung und Beschlagnahmungen gegen Journalist:innen zur Ausforschung ihrer Quellen einführen. Auch sollte es demnach ein explizites Verbot der Überwachung von Journalist:innen mit Staatstrojanern festschreiben.

22.06.2023 - 20:02 [ Politico.eu ]

EU capitals want media law carve-out to spy on reporters

(20.06.2023)

European Union governments want to be able to spy on reporters in the name of national security, even as lawmakers urge them to crack down on spyware.

Governments‘ deputy ambassadors are set to give their blessing at a Council meeting on Wednesday to a national security exemption in a new media regulation whose original purpose was to safeguard media independence and pluralism.

Privacy advocates and journalists’ organizations argue the new clause would give countries a free pass to snoop on reporters.

22.06.2023 - 19:55 [ theGuardian.com ]

Draft EU plans to allow spying on journalists are dangerous, warn critics

On Wednesday, the European Council – which represents the governments of EU member states – published a draft of the European Media Freedom Act that would allow spyware to be placed on journalists’ phones if a national government thought it necessary.

Unusually, the council did not take the step of holding an in-person meeting of ministers responsible for media before the draft was published.

22.06.2023 - 19:53 [ DailyMail.co.uk ]

EU set to approve the use of spyware to uncover confidential journalist sources ‚in the name of national security‘

Press freedom advocates warned the last-minute changes demanded by France could ‚open the door to all sorts of abuses‘.

All 32 offences listed in the EU arrest warrant, alongside any crime that could lead to a prison sentence of over five years, could be used under the new draft law.

It would also let EU governments exempt themselves from spying on journalists if it is an ‚overriding requirement of the public interest‘.

19.06.2023 - 12:24 [ Glenn Greenwald / Nitter ]

It‘s bizarre to watch establishment venues celebrate Daniel Ellsberg while spewing contempt for every cause and value he stood for — from defending Assange and Snowden as heroes to warning Americans that the US Security State always lies us into wars:

19.06.2023 - 11:59 [ New York Times ]

Why the Pentagon Papers Leaker Tried to Get Prosecuted Near His Life’s End

Citing the chilling effect that the creeping expansion of the law has on what information the public gets in a democracy, he expressed disappointment that the Biden administration had not dropped the Espionage Act charges against Mr. Assange.

“It’s clearly overly broad and does not just apply to people like me who had a security clearance. Assange is now feeling the weight of that,” he said, adding: “For 50 years I’ve been saying to journalists, ‘This thing was a loaded weapon looking at you.’”

15.06.2023 - 12:56 [ Kennedy24.com ]

Civil Liberties: Restore our Rights

Our administration will make it a top priority to protect and restore the fundamental civil liberties, enshrined in the Bill of Rights, that hold the essence of what America can be. These liberties have endured constant assault for over twenty years, starting with the Bush/Cheney War on Terror, and accelerating in the era of Covid lockdowns.

Freedom of speech is the capstone of all other rights and freedoms. Once a government has the power to silence its opponents, no other right is safe. We will therefore dismantle the censorship-industrial complex, in which Big Tech censors, deplatforms, shadowbans, and algorithmically suppresses any person or opinion the government asks them to. We will respect the right to privacy and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, by ending mass surveillance of American citizens and the abuse of civil asset forfeiture. We will make sure that the Covid-era suspension of the right to assembly, trial by jury, and freedom of worship will never happen again. The same for the right to property. During Covid, 3.4 million business were forced to close. Many of them, including 60% of Black-owned businesses, will never reopen.

A Kennedy administration will respect American citizens and stop treating them like suspects and schoolchildren. We will stop manipulating the public with propaganda and targeted leaks. We will never weaponize the law against political opponents, nor hold our own officials above the law. We will return the intelligence agencies to their proper role as protectors not violators of liberty.

14.06.2023 - 10:26 [ Daniel Ellsberg / Nitter ]

To @POTUS and @TheJusticeDept: Stop the extradition of Assange. I am as indictable as he is on the exact same charges. I will plead „not guilty“ on grounds of your blatantly unconstitutional use of the Espionage Act. Let‘s take this to the Supreme Court.

(06.12.2022)

26.05.2023 - 14:24 [ Harpers Magazine ]

Alternative Facts: How the media failed Julian Assange

(March 2023)

Assange has been the object of vindictive government attention for many years, even before being threatened with lifetime incarceration in a U.S. supermax dungeon. Why has it taken so long for the mainstream media to take a stand?

When I asked the Committee to Protect Journalists why Assange did not make their list, I was directed to a December 2019 statement: “After extensive research and consideration, CPJ chose not to list Assange as a journalist, in part because his role has just as often been as a source,” it reads, “and because WikiLeaks does not generally perform as a news outlet with an editorial process.” The newspapers that signed the November letter have similarly refused to claim Assange as one of their own. At the same time, other charges and smears have warped the public narrative, obscuring the threats to the First Amendment. Many of the outlets now expressing alarm have ignored or misrepresented key information about his plight along the way. It is crucial to reflect on these misdirections, especially as a blatant assault on press freedom now appears to be on the brink of success.

19.05.2023 - 11:49 [ Times of Israel ]

Reporter for right-wing network attacked while covering anti-government protest

Shalev said he is accustomed to facing animosity at anti-government demonstrations because he reports for Channel 14, which critics consider a mouthpiece for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that the incident the night before had for the first time included physical violence.

He said protesters used their flagpoles to beat him and his crew on the head and body.

“At that point I felt afraid. Until now I have not felt afraid in all the demonstrations I have been to, but here with the flags when it reached the physical level I started to be afraid,” Shalev said.

08.03.2023 - 16:34 [ Defend Assange Campaign / Nitter ]

All major Free Speech and Human Rights Orgs oppose the extradition of #WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange Reporters Without Borders: ‚This is really the future of Journalism that is at stake – it will not stop with Julian Assange

08.03.2023 - 16:04 [ New York Daily News / Nitter ]

„Pentagon Papers“ leaker Daniel Ellsberg, 91, is dying from cancer. Doctors have given him three to six months to live.

(03.03.2023)

08.03.2023 - 16:02 [ Daniel Ellsberg / Nitter ]

To @POTUS and @TheJusticeDept: Stop the extradition of Assange. I am as indictable as he is on the exact same charges. I will plead „not guilty“ on grounds of your blatantly unconstitutional use of the Espionage Act. Let‘s take this to the Supreme Court.

(06.12.2022)

19.12.2022 - 18:31 [ Daniel Ellsberg / Nitter ]

To @POTUS and @TheJusticeDept: Stop the extradition of Assange. I am as indictable as he is on the exact same charges. I will plead „not guilty“ on grounds of your blatantly unconstitutional use of the Espionage Act. Let‘s take this to the Supreme Court.

(06.12.2022)

18.12.2022 - 05:35 [ Defend Assange Campaign / Nitter ]

Pentagon Papers‘ Daniel Ellsberg: „Stop the extradition of Assange. I am as indictable as he is on the exact same charges. I will plead „not guilty“ on grounds of your blatantly unconstitutional use of the Espionage Act. Let‘s take this to the Supreme Court“ #FreeAssangeNOW

17.12.2022 - 08:33 [ Elon Musk / Nitter ]

The people have spoken. Accounts who doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now.

13.12.2022 - 18:59 [ theGuardian.com ]

Biden faces growing pressure to drop charges against Julian Assange

The charges against Assange for obtaining and publishing classified information, without any active role in actually stealing it mark “the crossing of a legal rubicon”, said Jaffer at Columbia University. That’s an ominous legal threshold, he said, for Assange and all journalists.

It’s the first time the US government has used the Espionage Act to go after a publisher and the implications are huge,” Jaffer said. Assange “has been indicted for activity that reporters are engaged in every day and that reporters have to engage in every day to inform the public. This would have dramatic implications for national security journalism.”

13.12.2022 - 18:54 [ Daniel Ellsberg / Nitter ]

To @POTUS and @TheJusticeDept: Stop the extradition of Assange. I am as indictable as he is on the exact same charges. I will plead „not guilty“ on grounds of your blatantly unconstitutional use of the Espionage Act. Let‘s take this to the Supreme Court.

(06.12.2022)

13.12.2022 - 06:02 [ Techdirt ]

Congress Trying To Sneak Through Internet Link Tax To Funnel Cash To Private Equity Firms That Are Destroying Local Journalism

Congress has a bad habit. They have stopped passing substantive legislation through normal procedure, debate and votes. The legislative process as designed by our Founders is not happening. Instead, Congress is saving most of its actual policy-making legislation for large end-of-the-year bills that can combine hundreds of separate pieces of legislation. And if reports are accurate, we could be shaping up for the granddaddy of them all this December. This process must change, particularly for bills as highly controversial and constitutionally concerning as the misleadingly named Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA).

06.12.2022 - 03:35 [ WikiLeaks / Nitter ]

New: The Pentagon Papers‘ Daniel Ellsberg reveals he received a „backup“ of the „Chelsea Manning information“ prior to publication: „I am as indictable as Julian Assange.. I‘d be happy to take that one to the Supreme Court“ [18:00]

27.11.2022 - 16:26 [ John Cusack / Nitter ]

The extradition of Julian Assange must be condemned by all who believe in press freedom

27.11.2022 - 15:57 [ Freedom of the Press Foundation ]

The extradition of Julian Assange must be condemned by all who believe in press freedom1

(June 17, 2022)

There is some historical irony in the fact that this extradition announcement falls during the anniversary of the Pentagon Papers trial, which began with the Times publication of stories based on the legendary leak on June 13, 1971, and continued through the seminal Supreme Court opinion rejecting prior restraint on June 30, 1971.

In the months and years following that debacle, whistleblower (and FPF co-founder) Daniel Ellsberg became the first journalistic source to be charged under the Espionage Act. What many do not know is that the Nixon administration attempted to prosecute Times reporter Neil Sheehan for receiving the Pentagon Papers as well — under a very similar legal theory the Justice Department is using against Assange.

27.11.2022 - 15:33 [ Daniel Neun / Radio Utopie ]

Taktik des Terrorkrieges: Der “Leak” und die “Whistleblower”

(8. Juni 2017)

Zusammenfassung der Taktik “Leak”

Variante 1: Lass den Gegner oder die populäre Presse deine Lügen oder Manipulationen streuen. So erscheinen sie glaubwürdig.

Variante 2: Wenn Du zutreffende, geheime und / oder private Informationen hast bzw sie geraubt hast und ihr Bekanntwerden in Deinem Interesse ist, lass den Gegner oder die populäre Presse diese veröffentlichen. So kannst du sie elegant bekannt werden lassen und Presse und Gegner durch deine eigene Intrige zusätzlich beschädigen.

Variante 3: Lass den Gegner oder die populäre Presse deine Pläne veröffentlichen, warte die Reaktion ab, lass die Erregung abebben, beschwichtige und setze dann einfach um wovon alle wussten, aber nichts dagegen unternahmen.

Variante 4: Lass den Gegner oder die populäre Presse über deine illegalen, kriminellen oder verfassungswidrigen Aktivitäten berichten und eventuell unbedeutende Teile davon (sukzessive) veröffentlichen. Dann warte die Reaktion ab, lass die Immunisierung wirken und das Fieber abebben, beschwichtige, streue Gerüchte, lass die Leute sich daran gewöhnen, kaufe eventuell ein paar Schlüsselfiguren ein oder stelle sie ruhig. Interpretiere. Verdächtige Gegner, die entsprechenden Informationen selbst veröffentlicht zu haben, beschädige diese und spioniere sie aus. Anschließend legalisiere wovon nun alle wissen, aber nichts dagegen unternehmen. Argumentiere, dass es ja alle auch wollen, weil sie nichts dagegen unternehmen. Falls Verfassungsklagen drohen, sorge dafür dass ihre Erhebung ebenso verschleppt wird wie das Verfahren. Wenn alle Fakten geschaffen sind, argumentiere mit deren Unumkehrbarkeit. Dann fang von vorne an.

(…)

Es führt kein Weg daran vorbei, die Konsequenzen und die Wirkung von Veröffentlichungen von bis dato geheimem Material einzuschätzen, sowohl vorab wie nachfolgend, ebenso die Art und Weise wie diese Veröffentlichungen zustande kamen.

Des Weiteren ist sich in die Rolle der Betreiber und Akteure von Massenerfassung und weltweiter Spionage hineinzuversetzen: wie würden diese versuchen Whistleblower, das Bekanntwerden eigener Umtriebe und entsprechende Plattformen wie Wikileaks für die eigenen Zwecke zu nutzen?

Erfolgreicher als in den letzten Jahren hätten sie dies kaum tun können.

27.11.2022 - 14:51 [ Daniel Neun / Radio Utopie ]

Der Wikileaks-Trick entlarvt sich

(28.Juli 2010)

Kapital 4: Auftritt Julian Assange

Dienstag Abend. Wikileaks-Gründer Julian Assange in einem der vielen Plätze, die es nicht in Deutschland gibt / geben darf, dem Londoner Frontline Club. Hier der Mitschnitt.

Assange ging in seinem Statement gleich zu Anfang explizit auf die in den Dokumenten enthaltenen Beschuldigungen gegen Pakistan und den ISI ein, ohne den Inhalt der US-Geheimdienst-Dokumente irgendwie in Zweifel zu ziehen. Er ging auf das weltweite Presseecho ein. Man könne die Wirkung der Veröffentlichung noch gar nicht absehen.

Die Quelle dieser Dokumente, so der Wikileaks-Gründer Assange, kenne man nicht, die kenne man nie. Das ganze Zugangssystem der Informationsplattform sei darauf angelegt, dass man nicht wisse, wer die Quelle sei und so dieses Geheimnis auch nicht preisgeben könne. Mehrere Systeme seien miteinander verbunden, u.a. ein System, welches die Militärspionage der US Navy entwickelt habe, um die Herkunft von Informationen seitens der Marinespione zu verbergen. Assange wörtlich zum Informationssystem von Wikileaks: “Das ist wirklich etwas, was es sonst auf der Erde nicht gibt”.

Das “Office of Naval Intelligence” (ONI) ist, so vermerkt es sogar der dt-Sprachige Wikipedia-Eintrag, unter der Verwaltung der “Defense Intelligenc Ageny” (DIA) – also genau der Agentur des Pentagon, welche solche Lücken wie die nun erfolgte Übertragung von 91.000 Militärdokumenten verhindern soll.Die DIA ist im mittlerweile außer Kontrolle geratenen Spionage-Komplex der USA eng mit einer ganzen Reihe von IT-Konzernen verknüpft. (TOP SECRET AMERICA (II): “Nationale Sicherheit AG”, 24.Juni)

Assange bezeichnete einiges in den veröffentlichen Dokumenten von Unteroffizieren der US-Militärspionage, die weitgehend auf den Aussagen bezahlter Informanten beruhen, selbst als “exotisch”; etwa Berichte, dass Osama Bin Laden sich regelmäßig einmal im Monat mit seinen Freunden zum Tee in einem bestimmten Teehaus in Afghanistan treffe.

Bisher sei Wikileaks aber noch nie mit gefälschten Dokumenten hereingelegt worden.

(…)

Kapitel 6: Analyse und Einschätzung

Damit kein falscher Eindruck entseht: meiner bescheidenen Meinung nach ist Julian Assange weder korrupt, noch ein Spion. Das wird von Quellen zur Zersetzung von Wikileaks gestreut, aus behördlichem Interesse, oder durch Konkurrenten die schlicht neidisch sind und persönlichen Erfolg als ihre höchste Priorität sehen.

Nein, was ich sagen will ist folgendes: Julian Assange liegt einfach falsch mit dieser Veröffentlichung.

Die Dokumente sind keine Fälschungen. Es ist echtes Geschwätz aus der US-Spionage. Das ist der Witz. Es ist echter Bullshit, der nichts wert ist. Aber er wurde wahrscheinlich extra zu diesem einen Zwecke produziert, um bei Wikileaks zu landen und als echter Bullshit die Welt noch blöder zu machen, als sie es jetzt schon ist, was zugegebenermaßen immerhin eine Leistung ist.

24.10.2022 - 05:55 [ DailyMail.co.uk ]

Destined for Downing Street? Rishi Sunak could be named PM TODAY after Boris Johnson pulls out of Tory leadership contest and Penny Mordaunt well short of the 100 supporters she needs ahead of 2pm deadline

– Rishi Sunak, who launched his bid yesterday morning, has received public backing of more than 150 Tory MPs
– As of last night, 155 MPs said they are backing Mr Sunak, while 25 had spoken out in support of Ms Mordaunt
– A further 54 who were hoping Mr Johnson would return are yet to publicly reveal to whom they will now back
– Mr Johnson earlier said he had in fact reached the ‚very high hurdle of 102 nominations‘ as he bowed out
– Ms Mordaunt‘s team, though, believe his decision to pull himself from the race will ‚propel her over the line‘

18.09.2022 - 15:29 [ Freedom of the Press Foundation ]

The extradition of Julian Assange must be condemned by all who believe in press freedom

(June 17, 2022)

By continuing to extradite Assange, the Biden DOJ is ignoring the dire warnings of virtually every major civil liberties and human rights organization in the country that the case will do irreparable damage to basic press freedom rights of U.S. reporters.

The prosecution, which includes 17 charges under the Espionage Act and one under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, covers events that took place more than a decade ago, but was brought only under the Trump administration — after the Obama Department of Justice reportedly considered charges but dismissed them for their dangerous First Amendment implications.

05.06.2022 - 13:00 [ Journalists Speak Up For Assange ]

Journalists Speak Up For Assange

In 1898, French writer Émile Zola wrote the open letter J’accuse…! (I accuse) to warn about the wrongful sentencing to life in prison of a military officer named Alfred Dreyfus on espionage charges. Zola’s stance entered history books and still today stands for our duty to fight miscarriages of justice and to hold the powerful to account. This duty is as necessary as ever today, when Julian Assange is being victimized by governments and faces 17 charges[1] under the US Espionage Act, legislation that also dates back over a hundred years.

As journalists and journalists’ organizations that believe in human rights, freedom of information and of the public’s right to know, we demand the immediate release of Julian Assange.

We urge our governments, all national and international agencies and fellow journalists to call for an end to the legal campaign being waged against him for the crime of revealing war crimes.

We urge our fellow journalists to inform the public accurately about this abuse of fundamental rights.

We urge all journalists to speak up in defense of Julian Assange at this critical time.

Dangerous times call for fearless journalism.

23.04.2022 - 10:06 [ MSNBC / Twitter ]

„This case, which is a devastating attack on press freedom … is coming to the U.S.,“ Stella Assange tells @AymanM . „The U.S. government is in fact criminalizing journalistic activity through this prosecution.“

22.04.2022 - 08:31 [ Amnesty.org.uk ]

UK: Home Secretary agreeing to Assange extradition would threaten media freedom

If the Home Secretary certifies the US request to extradite Julian Assange it will violate the prohibition against torture and set an alarming precedent for publishers and journalists around the world, Amnesty International said today, following the Westminster Magistrates’ Court decision this morning to issue an order to extradite the WikiLeaks founder to the United States.

The case will now be sent to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, who will decide whether to certify the US request by 18 May.