The EU’s work on data acces for law enforcement risks undermining press freedom.

The EU High-Level Group on Access to Data for Effective Law Enforcement, also known as “HLG Going Dark”, presented its final report and recommendations in the context of cross-border judicial investigations. Suggestions include new data retention rules across the EU that risk breaching the security of communications and undermine encryption. We expect for instance new obligations on hardware and software manufacturers (e.g. including phones, computers, the internet of things) to share user data with law enforcement authorities. Obligations would amount to a “lawful access by design” and backdoor surveillance on devices that risk cracking end-to-end encryption of electronic services.

We foresee negative consequences on the protection of journalistic sources, and by extension media freedom. On the contrary, EU law should guarantee the security of news media professionals’ communications.

We, a broad coalition of 55 civil society organisations, industry and professional associations, warn of these dangers and propose a better policy alternative in an open letter published on 11 December 2024.

Read the full letter here.

Contact:

aurore.raoux@newsmediaeurope.eu