Vienna: The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Ambassador Jan Braathu, emphasized the critical importance of media freedom for maintaining stability and public trust, declaring it "not a luxury" but a necessity. Ambassador Braathu presented a report to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) permanent council, warning of a significant transformation threatening the democratic and security foundations of society.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Ambassador Braathu expressed concern over the rapid paradigm shift in the information environment, which he believes is compromising democratic resilience and endangering journalists throughout the OSCE region. He pointed out that the increasing political pressure, disinformation, economic instability, the influence of major online platforms, and the rise of artificial intelligence are fundamentally altering how societies access and trust information.
The report presented by Braathu also addresses the growing concentration of power and hostility towards journalists, which is causing further fragmentation in public discourse. It highlights ongoing issues such as attacks, intimidation, and arbitrary detentions of journalists, particularly during protests, as well as the persistent impunity for those responsible for these actions.
Ambassador Braathu raised concerns regarding intrusive surveillance practices, restrictive legislation like "foreign agent" laws, and the proliferation of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) aimed at stifling public interest reporting. He stressed the urgent need for all OSCE participating States to implement the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision 3/2018 on the Safety of Journalists and called for measures against disinformation that support, rather than hinder, media freedom.