Predatorgate: Commission flags rule of law concerns over Greece fining a broadcaster
Source: Euractiv
“We don’t comment on individual cases or decisions of national courts or authorities. We closely follow developments related to media freedom and pluralism in all Member States, including in the context of the Rule of Law Report,” a European Commission spokesperson told Euractiv about the decision of the Greek National Council for Radio and Television (NCRTV), a broadcasting regulator, to fine Mega TV for defaming an ex-PM aide.
The Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report states that “concerns have been raised regarding the independence” of NCRTV and highlighted among others the “prevalence of SLAPPs” (strategic lawsuits against public participation) in the country.
NCRTV has imposed a €90,000 fine on Alter Ego Media, the owner of mainstream TV channel Mega for violating “the obligation to respect personality” of Grigoris Dimitriadis, former chief of staff and nephew of Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, following media reports that implicated him in the Predator spyware scandal.
Dimitriadis was responsible for the oversight of the intelligence service, during the time when Predator was deployed in the country.
He stepped down in August 2022, alongside Greece’s then-intelligence chief Panagiotis Kontoleon, a week after the leader of the country’s Socialist opposition party Nikos Androulakis filed a complaint with the supreme court over “attempted” spying on his mobile phone with Predator malware.
In July 2024, a court found no state authorities’ involvement in the case.
The trial for misdemeanours of the four legal representatives and owners of the companies implicated in the case – one of which, according to reports, is related to Dimitriadis – is set to take place on 5 March.
Mega TV called the NCRTV decision “an attempt of censorship” that raises serious questions, while stating that the broadcaster “did not target Mr Dimitriadis, nor did it intend to.”
The broadcaster has also mooted the possibility of an appeal to Greece’s Supreme Court (Council of State).
The Journalists ‘Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (ESIEA) issued a statement stressing that it is “deeply concerned” with NCRTV’s decision.
“It is also confusing that in the 86 pages of the decision’s reasoning, the independent regulator NCRTV attempts to get into the substance of a case that has never been brought before an actual judge. Justice, on the contrary, is busy with the dozens of SLAPP lawsuits filed by Grigoris Dimitriadis against journalists and already the first instance decision does not accept his claims,” the statement continued.
The original article: belongs to Euractiv .
