Greece: Harassment of journalists & lack of media pluralism is undermining democracy, finds Human Rights Watch report; incl. cos. non-responses
In May 2025, Human Rights Watch published a report exploring alleged intimidation and harassment of journalists and a lack of media pluralism in Greece. The report argues this undermines democracy and the rule of law.
The journalists interviewed for this report all spoke about the stifling atmosphere in which they work, and the pervasive climate of censorship and self-censorship under which they operate.Human Rights Watch, "From Bad to Worse: The Deterioration of Media Freedom in Greece"
The report says a lack of media pluralism in Greece amid the domination of outlets aligned with ruling parties and high level of ownership concentration, has led to “media owners' interests” taking priority “over the principles of independent journalism”. The report highlights how influential figures with diverse business interests, including “shipping industry magnates and influential businessmen”, maintain control over multiple outlets, limiting impartiality.
The report explores the intimidation and harassment of independent and government-critical journalists by mainstream media and government aligned actors, including through surveillance using commercial spyware, such as the use of the spyware Predator (which the report says company Intellexa is behind; Intellexa did not respond to Human Rights Watch). The report also highlights the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation to intimidate independent outlets, and describes the harassment of journalists on social media, including X.
The report explores the Government’s political control and alleged interference with public media, including through the placing of the country's public service broadcaster, ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation) and AMNA (Athens-Macedonian News Agency) under prime ministerial control in 2019. The report includes testimony from AMNA journalists alleging an increase in political interference after 2019, and testimony from an ERT journalist on alleged cutting of her reports on sensitive topics. Both ERT and AMNA responded to Human Rights Watch, including by asserting their independence.
The report highlights the potential use of state advertising funds to support pro-government media outlets. It mentions alleged irregularities in the allocation of public funding for media outlets for campaigns by the Athens Water Supply and Sewage Company, raising transparency questions.
Human Rights Watch sent letters to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation), the National Transparency Authority, Intellexa, Antenna TV media group, SKAI media group, Nea Tileorasi media group, DPG media group, Dimera publishing media group, and Alter Ego media group. It says one media group emphasized the “importance of accuracy and impartiality in reporting, and mentioned the company's commitment to protecting its journalists”.
In June, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited X and Athens Water Supply and Sewage Company to respond to the report. The companies did not respond.