Confidentiality of journalists’ sources needs strengthening in Canada

VIENNA, 6 April 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called upon Canadian authorities to improve reporters’ rights to protect confidential sources in the wake of a court decision ordering the disclosure of materials relating to a terrorism investigation.

A Superior Court judge in Ontario last week upheld an order requiring VICE reporter Ben Makuch to disclose his private communications with Farah Shirdon, a Canadian about whom Makuch published stories on terrorism and the so-called Islamic State. Shirdon is believed to be in the Middle East and is being tried before the Canadian courts in absentia on terrorism-related charges.

“The confidentiality of journalists’ sources is one of the basic conditions for press freedom,” Mijatović said. “This case shows that the lawmakers in Canada need to propose clear legal rules to strengthen the protection of journalists’ confidential sources in order to avoid similar cases in the future.”

“Infringing confidentiality can, over time, lead to the silencing of sources, thereby undermining the ability of the media to report on issues of broad public interest,” Mijatović said.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.