National security became a weapon against journalism

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released a troubling new report, identifying national security as the new weapon deployed by states against the free press. According to the document, authoritarian and democratic governments alike are learning from one another how to weaponize these mechanisms to silence journalists investigating matters of public interest. RSF Editorial Director Anne Bocandé stated that every unjust prosecution and arbitrary detention deeply damages the public's fundamental right to information.

Wave of detentions spreads globally

Numerous international journalists faced severe prosecution between 2020 and 2026 under the pretext of national security. During this period, Saudi authorities executed journalist Turki al-Jasser based on fabricated charges. Similarly, Frenchie Mae Cumpio of the Philippines and Zhang Zhan of China were imprisoned solely for performing their journalistic duties. From Gaza to Hong Kong, and Moscow to Managua, hundreds of journalists are systematically targeted with accusations of espionage, terrorism, or treason.

On July 1, 2026, the Chinese regime implemented a sweeping new anti-terrorism law that dangerously expands the definition of national security crimes. This new legislation escalates pressure on exiled journalists, particularly those from the persecuted Uyghur minority. In Hong Kong, Jimmy Lai, the founder of the prominent independent newspaper Apple Daily, has been detained for over 2,000 days. Meanwhile, Russia added the independent outlet Crimean Solidarity to its "foreign agents" list, and the US Department of Justice subpoenaed journalists from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

Turkey pressures journalists over international reporting

Turkish courts have utilized security pretexts and fear as tools to suppress press freedom. The RSF report highlights the specific cases of Can Dündar and Müyesser Uğur. In 2020, Dündar was sentenced to 27 years and 6 months in prison over his report on the MIT intelligence trucks, and he currently lives in exile. Journalist Müyesser Uğur received a sentence of 3 years and 7 months for exposing Turkey's military operations in Libya. An appeals court upheld her conviction in 2022, creating a major barrier to her work.

RSF demands institutional changes for the future

The report outlines 10 core findings and offers 10 practical recommendations to safeguard the independence of the press. RSF calls on international bodies to strictly define and limit the scope of national security. The organization emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen the protection of confidential sources and enforce strict limits on digital surveillance. Ultimately, RSF demands that anti-terrorism frameworks no longer serve as an obstacle to freedom of expression in the future.