Draft EU plans to allow spying on journalists are dangerous, warn critics

Move to allow spyware to be placed on reporters' phones would have a chilling effect', say media experts

Draft legislation published by EU leaders that would allow national security agencies to spy on journalists has been condemned by media and civic society groups as dangerous and described by a leading MEP as incomprehensible".

On Wednesday, the European Council - which represents the governments of EU member states - published a draft of the European Media Freedom Act that would allow spyware to be placed on journalists' phones if a national government thought it necessary.