9.12.2024 Law in media
Unsolved Journalist Murders: CPJ Report 2024
KFi
Haiti and Israel have topped the latest report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on impunity in journalist murders. Worldwide, 80% of cases remain unsolved. The report explores why those who kill journalists evade accountability, highlighting the countries leading this grim statistic and its impact on press freedom.
illustration: Bing AIThe Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in its report "2024 Impunity Index: Haiti and Israel Top List of Countries Where Journalist Murders Go Unpunished," underscores the alarming global issue of impunity for journalist murders. The analysis, covering September 1, 2014, to August 31, 2024, reveals that 80% of journalist murders remain unresolved. The findings confirm that press freedom faces severe threats.
Haiti and Israel Under the Spotlight
Haiti and Israel ranked first in CPJ`s Impunity Index. In Haiti, the issue has persisted for years. Since 2014, the murderers of six journalists have evaded justice. The report highlights that authorities often ignore attacks on journalists, and the weakness of state institutions worsens the problem.
Israel’s appearance on the list was unexpected. For the first time since CPJ began its analysis in 2008, Israel has ranked in the index. The country has one of the highest impunity rates for journalist murders relative to its population. CPJ’s analysis points to two unresolved cases of targeted journalist killings, including the high-profile death of Shireen Abu Akleh and others killed while covering conflicts.
A Global Impunity Problem
CPJ’s report reveals that impunity is not limited to Haiti and Israel. Globally, 80% of journalist murders go unpunished. This means that for every ten journalist murders, only two result in prosecutions.
Global Data in Numbers:
- 263 journalists killed in the last 10 years.
- 210 cases remain unsolved.
- 41 countries included in CPJ`s analysis.
Countries with the Highest Impunity Rates:
| Rank | Country | Unresolved Murders | Population (millions) | Years in Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haiti | 7 | 11.7 | 2 |
| 2 | Israel and Palestinian Territories* | 8 | 14.9 | 1 |
| 3 | Somalia | 9 | 18.1 | 17 |
| 4 | Syria | 11 | 23.2 | 11 |
| 5 | South Sudan | 5 | 11.1 | 10 |
| 6 | Afghanistan | 18 | 42.2 | 16 |
| 7 | Iraq | 11 | 45.5 | 17 |
| 8 | Mexico | 21 | 128.5 | 17 |
| 9 | Philippines | 18 | 117.3 | 17 |
| 10 | Myanmar | 8 | 54.6 | 3 |
Tragic Implications for Press Freedom
Impunity for journalist murders undermines the foundations of press freedom. According to the "2024 Impunity Index," investigative journalists, who often expose corruption, human rights abuses, and criminal networks, are most at risk. For instance, in Mexico, 31 journalists were murdered in recent years, with none of the cases fully resolved.
CPJ also notes that the lack of consequences for perpetrators has a chilling effect on journalists. Many avoid reporting on sensitive topics to protect their lives. The report highlights cases in India where local journalists are targeted for exposing corruption and abuses of power.
The Need for International Action
The authors of the report call on the international community to take decisive action. They argue that only global pressure on governments in countries like Haiti, Israel, and Mexico can improve the situation. The report suggests strengthening support for journalists in conflict zones and increasing pressure to enforce international press protection standards.
The full report is available at:
https://cpj.org/thematic-reports/haiti-israel-most-likely-to-let-journalists-murders-go-unpunished
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Law in media
Phishing in the Cryptocurrency Industry. Fake Recruitments Steal Data
Piotr Rozmiarek
Security researchers have detected a social engineering campaign targeting job seekers in the Web3 industry. The attack aims to conduct fake job interviews via a meeting application that installs information-stealing malware.
SLAPP Lawsuits in Europe. How Journalists and Activists Are Silenced
Krzysztof Fiedorek
The number of strategic lawsuits aimed at intimidating journalists, activists, and civil society organizations is increasing in Europe. According to the CASE SLAPPs Report 2024, as many as 1,049 such cases were identified between 2010 and 2023.
Why do People Spread Disinformation? Results of DigiPatch Research
Ewelina Krajczyńska-Wujec
People strongly driven by the need for power are more likely to share posts on social media, including disinformation. Power itself, like the need to gain prestige and recognition, is not associated with the frequency of spreading false information, according to research involving Professor Małgorzata Kossowska from the Jagiellonian University.
See articles on a similar topic:
Recognizing Fake News. Technologies for Creating False Information
BARD
Artificial intelligence is increasingly used to fake information. Software now allows manipulation of public appearances by politicians. Bots are also used more often in Poland, with hate speech and trolling among the internet’s biggest threats.
Children’s Online Safety. Clickmeeting Analysis
KrzysztoF
Over half of surveyed parents believe their children are aware of the dangers lurking online. At the same time, just over 40 percent of respondents admit to taking steps to protect their children’s privacy online.
Quishing. How to Protect Yourself from QR Code Scams
Krzysztof Fiedorek
According to analysts from Keepnet Labs, quishing will be one of the most serious threats to businesses and individuals in 2024. In 2023, the number of data or money theft cases using this method increased globally by 587%.
What Data Google Collects. Privacy on the Internet
KF
According to a gs.statcounter.com report – May 2018, Google captures over 97% of internet users. Currently, many free applications are available to users. What does Google collect? When using the most popular search engine, we should be aware of how our data is collected and used.
