Civic space is wherever people organize, participate, protest, or communicate with each other to influence the political and social structures around them. Protecting it is our highest priority.
Press Freedom and Civic Space
On this World Press Freedom Day, let’s think about our information climate, where the media fit in, and what this means for the rest of us.
Journalists provide essential access to reliable, accessible, and accurate information that helps us all make the decisions that shape our lives – and the societies we live in. They also work to counter the scourge of disinformation that often escalates during times of crisis.
The media’s important work defending information integrity is often carried out alongside and with support from civil society organisations, and it is needed now more than ever to protect civic space from the escalating assaults on it.
To protect civic space, we must demand press freedom.
Featured Articles
Fake video calls to European mayors aim to harm Ukrainian refugees
In video calls, a fake ‘Mayor Klitschko’ spoke with the mayors of Berlin, Vienna, Warsaw, and other cities, discussed details about Russia’s war in Ukraine – and called for people fleeing the war to be returned to Ukraine. Notorious Russian prank callers have claimed responsibility.
Hong Kong: 25 years after handover, repression accelerating
“The electoral system has been gutted, prodemocracy and opposition activists arrested, independent media demolished, and internet freedom restricted. Put plainly: freedom has been crushed for the people of Hong Kong.”
Lebanon: Unlawful crackdown on LGBTI gatherings
Authorities have unlawfully banned peaceful gatherings of the LGBTI community, violating constitutional rights to equality, free expression, and free assembly.
69% of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip support privacy and data protection legislation
New survey demonstrates an urgent need for comprehensive privacy and data protection Palestinian legislation that can protect all citizens’ right to privacy and ensure accountability.
Pakistan: PPF strongly condemns violent attack on senior journalist Ayaz Amir
Pakistan Press Foundation describes the assault against senior journalist Ayaz Amir as a reflection of the shrinking space for free expression in Pakistan.
Meta wants to mimic TikTok: towards AI-driven disinformation
“The big platforms are more innovative when it comes to defending their economic interests than they are about combatting disinformation. By following the path forged by TikTok, Mark Zuckerberg is transitioning to a new era of prosperity for disinformation. The response to disinformation cannot be to promote it by means of artificial intelligence.”