Czech Republic
IPI gives press freedom reportPosted Oct 28 2009
International Press Institute (IPI) delegates visited the Czech Republic capital of Prague May 13-14 and met with members of the Czech media to discuss press freedom in the country. The subsequent report was made public on Oct. 14.
IPI’s report discusses the April 1 law that made it illegal to print information from police wiretaps or to mention in print that wiretapping occurred. Furthermore, it is illegal to print information about people involved in certain crimes—both victims and perpetrators—without the individual’s consent. The report notes that editors and publishers felt it difficult to advise reporters on how to avoid violating the law and that the fast paced nature of the newsroom makes it difficult to decide quickly given the ambiguity of the law.
“In the wording of Chamber of Deputies' amendment, the wiretapping law in its essence is certainly contributing to the rise of ‘self-censorship,” Michael Kocab, Czech Human Rights and Ethnic Minorities Minister, told IPI in an email interview.
Fines for violating the law can reach up to five million koruna for media outlets and one million koruna for individuals. Also, violators could face up to five years in prison.
IPI makes several recommendations for changes in the report, including amending the wiretapping law as well as repealing laws that penalize the press with prison terms.