2018 | Our Pioneering Fight Against Internet Shutdowns Worldwide

Media Defence was one of the first organisations to litigate against internet shutdowns, having challenged them since 2018. We have supported or litigated around 20 instances of internet shutdowns across four continents.

2018 | Togo internet shutdown

In Sept 2017, the govt of the Republic of Togo shut down the internet multiple times. The shutdowns followed widespread political protests. We worked with Nigerian lawyer Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga to file an application before the ECOWAS Court. In Jun, 2020, the Court ruled that Togo violated freedom of expression, digital rights, and press freedom by shutting down the Internet.

2019 | Indonesia

In Aug 2019, violent protests erupted in Indonesia. In an attempt to quell the protests, authorities slowed internet access in areas of West Papua for a number of days. We supported a challenge to this shutdown in Feb 2020. In its verdict the State Administrative Court of Indonesia held that the government had broken the law by shutting down the internet.

2021 | Nigeria

Media Defence, alongside Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga, represented Plaintiffs challenging the Nigerian government's decision to ban Twitter in Nigeria in Jun 2024.

In a landmark judgment the ECOWAS court found that Nigeria had violated the rights of all the Plaintiffs. The Court also mandated legal reforms and prohibited future social media blockades.

Spying in the digital age

In 2021, the Pegasus Project revealed that 180 journalists, along with thousands of politicians, and activists around the world were targeted with Pegasus - a mobile phone surveillance software sold by the Israeli-based firm NSO Group. Once installed, Pegasus can extract contacts, photos, videos, geolocation, encrypted communications and much more.

Pegasus is a tool of transnational oppression. Targeting journalists with the use of cyberweapons creates fear.

Leading the charge

We were one of the first to bring cases against States at the ECtHR for the misuse of Pegasus.

2022 | Azerbaijan

In 2022, along with Azeri lawyers Zibeyda Sadigova and Elchin Sadigov, we filed four cases at the ECtHR concerning the use of Pegasus spyware by Azerbaijan. Cyberattacks in Azerbaijan are on the rise and the those targeted are often outspoken critics of the government.

In 2023 we filed 4 more cases concerning the use of Pegasus against journalists and human rights defenders in the country.

Defending Environmental journalists

Reporting on the environment has become one of the most dangerous jobs in journalism. Over the past decade, at least 13 journalists investigating environmental issues have been killed. Countless others have suffered violence, harassment, intimidation and SLAPP lawsuits.

2018 | Alberto Castaño

Castaño is an environmental journalist supported by us and our partner Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP) in Colombia.

Castaño's reporting on environmental abuses resulted in online threats, intimidation, and judicial harassment. In 2018, identifying information about Castaño and his son was shared on Twitter - he had been doxxed. FLIP’s lawyers defended Castaño in the proceedings and ultimately won the case.

“If it wasn’t for the help FLIP and Media Defence gave me, I don’t even want to think that my three children could perfectly well be growing up without parents.”

Alberto Castaño

SLAPPs

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation or SLAPPs are used to censor and intimidate critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defence. Journalist's targeted face heavy fines, bans from journalism, and even imprisonment as a result of baseless legal claims. This type of litigation is becoming increasingly common in Europe and around the world.

Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe

Media Defence, is part of the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe. We are committed to defending and protecting journalists from this kind of persecution.

João Paulo Cuenca

In Brazil, we have been supporting journalist and author João Paulo Cuenca. Cuenca was targeted by over 140 lawsuits. Pastors from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of Christ, a huge multinational organisation, filed these suits all over the country.

As of 2022, 91 of the 143 lawsuits launched against João Paulo Cuenca, have either been successfully defended or dismissed. A Normative Act has also been issued, recommending how judges and prosecutors should treat lawsuits such as Cuenca’s.

2022 | Chutima Sidasthian

Thai reporter, Chutima Sidasathian, has dedicated herself to reporting on corruption and the plights of rural communities and refugees. This dedication comes despite repeated attempts to silence her through intimidation and legal attacks.

“Speaking out got me sued. I now face up to 14 years in jail. All because of some honest reporting that simply clarified what was happening.”

We supported Sidasthian's cases in 2015 and 2021 - both of which she won. We continue to support Chutima's legal defence for her upcoming trials in 2024.

Combatting impunity for violence against journalists

Every year journalists are killed, tortured, and harassed for carrying out their work. Over 1,600 journalists have been killed since 2003. There is often no accountability for these attacks – killings of journalists go unpunished in 86% of cases.

Long term support

Fighting impunity can often many years if not decades, it can also be arduous and costly. We support journalists' cases long term in order to offer them or their loved ones the best hope of getting justice.

2000 - 2021 | Jineth Bedoya

Jineth Bedoya (pictured), a reknowned Colombian journalist, was abducted and sexually assaulted for her investigative journalism in May 2000. For two decades Bedoya fought for accountability. When her case finally reached the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), we filed an amicus curiae brief and our partner, FLIP, led on the case.

In 2021 the IACHR issued a landmark judgment. The case set key standards for the protection of women journalists.

2001 - 2023 | Claudia Julieta Duque

For over two decades journalist Claudia Duque was subjected to psychological torture at the hands of the now-defunct Colombian secret police, the Department of Security (DAS). In Nov 2023, a former DAS agent was finally convicted. He now faces a 12.5-year prison sentence.

We have stood alongside Duque in her pursuit for justice for many years. We are proud to represent Duque before the IACHR as well as in 2023 case against the DAS agent.

2019 - Ongoing | Samuel Wazizi

We are working with local counsel to seek accountability for the detention and death of Cameroonian journalist Samuel Wazizi. Wazizi was arrested and held incommunicado in Aug 2019 in connection with his critical reporting on the government. The fact of his death in custody was kept hidden for almost a year.

Freedom of expression in a time of war

War reporting by independent journalists is essential to ensuring the public is informed about human rights violations, war crimes and genocide.

We continue to litigate cases of violence against journalists during conflict in order to challenge the culture of impunity in which state and non-state actors commit these attacks.

2020 | Oleh Baturin

In Mar 2022, Oleh Baturin, a Ukrainian journalist was abducted, tortured and held captive for 8 days by Russian agents. Baturin has reported extensively on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

In Jul 2022 Media Defence and Baturin’s local counsel filed his case at the ECtHR, against Russia.

Setting new precedents | Spotlight on recent Strategic litigation

2023 | Malkiewicz v UK

We submitted a third party intervention to the ECtHR in the case of Malkiewicz and others v UK. The case involves individuals who were sued for defamation against as a result of an article published in a Polish-language newspaper located in London.

The proceedings lasted around six years, and the applicants were left facing a costs bill of almost £600,000.

Why would a positive judgment impact freedom of expression more broadly?

The excessive costs in such cases in England and Wales are linked to an increase in SLAPP cases against journalists. The prospect of being sued in the UK impacts journalists decisions to publish important public interest information. Our intervention challenges the use of SLAPPs in this jurisdiction to suppress critical voices.

2023 | The case of Nika Gvaramia

In May 2022, Nika Gvaramia, a prominent Georgian journalist and leading opposition politician, was convicted of abuse of power and sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment.

In Oct 2023, We filed Gvaramia’s case at the ECtHR, challenging his unlawful detention and the denial of his right to a fair trial.

Why would a positive judgment impact freedom of expression more broadly?

The case challenges a broader campaign by the Georgian government to impede the journalistic work of government-critical media outlets.

2023 | Challenge to the Colombian Constitutional Court

We supported our partner, El Veinte, in bringing a challenge to the Constitutional Court in Colombia. El Veinte is challenging the constitutionality an article of the law which regulates media access to detention centres. El Veinte argues that this article violates various constitutional and international rights by requiring prior authorisation for media visits to prisons, hindering journalists' ability to freely gather information.

Why would a positive judgment impact freedom of expression more broadly?

We believe this restriction on access harms freedom of expression. The outcome of this case is crucial for safeguarding the rights of journalists, bloggers, and citizens across Colombia.