German government: freedom of the press to be strengthened
Die deutsche Regierung will Medienleute stärker vor dem Staatsanwalt schützen und auf diese Weise Pressefreiheit stärken. Einen entsprechenden Gesetzesentwurf beschloss das Kabinett am Mittwoch in Berlin.
This draft stipulates that journalists can no longer be prosecuted for aiding and abetting the betrayal of secrets if they publish material that has been leaked to them. The planned amendment is an addition to a paragraph in the Criminal Code. This paragraph threatens public officials who betray an official secret with a prison sentence of up to five years. However, according to the SDA, this paragraph is also used by the public prosecutor's office to take action against the media.
In future, a new paragraph will exclude the use of "aiding and abetting betrayal of secrets". This means that journalists will no longer be liable to prosecution if they publish material that has been leaked to them.
In future, a new paragraph will exclude the use of "aiding and abetting betrayal of secrets". This means that journalists will no longer be liable to prosecution if they publish material that has been leaked to them.
