OSCE media freedom representative concerned about ban on reporting about Icelandic bank

VIENNA, 18 October 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed his concern about an injunction issued by the Reykjavik District Commissioner on any reporting on leaked documents from the collapsed bank Glitnir. The documents, which have been reported on by international and domestic news media, allegedly include information about the prime minister’s financial interests at the bank. 

“As prior restraints on publication, such injunctions need to be used with caution and applied in very limited circumstances,” Désir stressed. “The aim of protecting personal data is a legitimate one, but the means to achieve it should be crafted narrowly and according to accepted standards on freedom of expression. A blanket prohibition on all reporting on this topic is overbroad and undermines the freedom of the media, as well as the public’s right to be informed.”

The injunction was granted  after the newspaper Stundin and the investigative journalism team from Reykjavík Media started reporting on Friday on the internal affairs of Glitnir, which was declared bankrupt in 2008. One of the persons identified in the reports was the prime minister. According to press reports, the justification provided for the injunction was  the need to protect personal banking data of former account holders at the bank.

The Representative noted that Glitner has also hired lawyers to look into the possibility of applying for an injunction against the Guardian, which has also covered the leaked documents.

“I call on the Icelandic authorities to refrain from adopting further restrictions on press publication in relation to this case and to lift those already in place,” Désir said. 

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.