Emine Özhasar, legal unit coordinator at the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), attended the Europe Litigation Surgery program in Budapest, where lawyers from across Europe discussed strategic litigation, freedom of expression, press freedom and emerging legal challenges facing journalists and media organizations.
ISTANBUL — Özhasar took part in the program, organized by Media Defence, in the Hungarian capital from June 8-11.
The event brought together legal professionals from various European countries working on freedom of expression, press freedom and human rights issues. Participants discussed developments in strategic litigation and current trends in freedom of expression law.
Sessions focused on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) filed against journalists and media organizations, hate speech regulations, online freedom of expression, the relationship between data protection law and public-interest journalism, and legal issues surrounding the surveillance of journalists.
Özhasar attended discussions on legal mechanisms developed to counter SLAPP lawsuits and on how such measures are being implemented across Europe. As part of the program, participants worked on hypothetical case studies, developing legal arguments and exchanging experiences with lawyers from different countries.
On the second day of the event, sessions examined the relationship between data protection law and public-interest journalism. Participants discussed implementation of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the impact of data protection legislation on journalistic activities and litigation experiences in the field.
The program also addressed surveillance practices targeting journalists, case law of the European Court of Human Rights, and legal strategies used to challenge spyware and other forms of digital monitoring.
Özhasar said the program provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences with legal professionals from across Europe. She added that the participation was important for strengthening international networks that support MLSA’s work on freedom of expression and press freedom, as well as for keeping abreast of current legal developments in the field.
