Data Privacy Threats Persist Across Balkans and Turkey
BIRN’s monthly update on digital rights and safety in the Western Balkans and Turkey highlights the most significant scams, data leaks, bomb threats and sexist and homophobic attacks across the…
Court Orders, No Explanations: How Turkey Muzzles Journalists on Social Media
Kurdish investigative reporter Rusen Takva says the repeated blocking of his social media accounts shows how court-ordered content restrictions are being used to curbing press freedom in Turkey. KAYNAK: Balkan…
Russian Disinformation Proliferating Online in Kosovo, BIRN Report Warns
At the launch of a report on Russian and Serbian disinformation in Kosovo, speakers said the country's media and institutions are struggling the respond to fake news, which is becoming…
At Bulgaria’s Elections, is the EU Facing Another Digital Calamity?
The lesson of the anti-EU backlash following the annulled polls in Romania last year is that election-related social media manipulation must be identified swiftly, long before polling day in Bulgaria.…
Democracy Digest: Poland’s PiS Names Hardliner as PM Candidate to Shore Up Right
Elsewhere, Hungary and Slovakia see fallout from surging fuel prices; extremist Slovak activist convicted; Czech Television presenter quits over fears about editorial independence; and Orban shelved major plan to overhaul…
Democracy Digest: Poland in Talks with France on European Nuclear Deterrence
Elsewhere, Hungary’s foreign minister meets Putin just 5 weeks before election; Slovakia’s police inspectorate detains several officers linked to former anti-corruption agency; and Czech PM and far-right ally avoid having…
Democracy Digest: Hungary, Slovakia Step Up Pressure on Ukraine Over Oil Supplies
Elsewhere, Poland’s political cohabitation under strain as institutional clashes meet coalition fragility; Czech lower house to debate lifting parliamentary immunity of Babis and Okamura; Slovak coalition is working on changes…
Democracy Digest: Orban Goes to Washington and Receives Trump’s Endorsement
Elsewhere, Slovakia and Hungary blame Ukraine for lack of oil through pipeline apparently bombed by Russia; Polish bishop becomes first to stand trial over alleged failure to report sexual abuse;…
Democracy Digest: Brussels Takes Hungary, Slovakia to Task
Elsewhere, Slovakia’s top court suspends part of amendment to the Criminal Code; Rubio to visit Slovakia then Hungary; Czech PM inclined to back ban on social media for under 15s;…
Democracy Digest: Poland to Probe Possible Epstein Links to Russian Intelligence
Elsewhere, Hungary government pushes Budapest to brink of bankruptcy; reports suggest Czech PM’s conflicts of interest not quite resolved; Tusk makes Ukraine trip in show of Polish support; and Slovak…