Hacker attacks on media websites endanger media freedom, says OSCE Representative

VIENNA, 21 October 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called on authorities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia to investigate all hacker attacks on media websites as they represent a clear danger to media freedom.

“We have seen malicious denial of service attacks recently that obstruct the lawful activity of journalists. They must be investigated by law enforcement agencies of all countries,” Mijatović said.

In the past two days Internet servers of the FENA news agency and BUKA magazine in Bosnia and Herzegovina were hacked.  Last week the website of the Albanian Public Broadcaster was hacked and replaced with provocative images. Media outlets in Serbia: 24sata.rs, Blic, e-novine, Kurir and Telegraf, were also subject to attacks.

“Such attacks are a threat to cyber security, which is vital for free media and the free flow of information,” Mijatović said. “We have witnessed an exponential increase in such attacks which must be thoroughly investigated to protect online portals and allow journalists do their jobs without hindrance.”