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The EBU urges stronger EU whistleblower protections, especially for those disclosing directly to media, arguing the current Directive creates legal uncertainty and weak safeguards that hinder investigative journalism, and calls for better alignment with the EMFA and clearer recognition of media’s role and protections, including exemptions for public service media from access to information laws.
On 24 April, the EBU published its response to the European Commission’s public consultation on the evaluation of the Directive on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law. In our contribution, we emphasize the need for stronger protections for whistleblowers who directly disclose information to the media.
Public service media play an essential democratic role by informing citizens and holding power to account. Their investigative journalism work often depends on the courage of whistleblowers to provide information that uncovers wrongdoing, exposes corruption and abuses of power, often at great personal risk, facing retaliation or sanctions. The comprehensive protection of whistleblowers when they disclose information directly to the media is a key element for the work of independent media and is complementary to the protection of journalistic sources foreseen in the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).
However, the current Whistleblower Protection Directive falls short in offering comprehensive protections for individuals...
A person in his 30s who demanded compensation for alleged foreign substances in cup noodles and the absence of meat in stir-fried pork was sentenced to prison in both the first trial and the appel...