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In a recent judgment with implications for all sections of the media, the High Court of Ireland granted an appeal by the Minister for Education and Science against a decision of the Information Commissioner ordering the disclosure of certain information. The Information Commissioner had decided that three newspapers should, under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 (see IRIS 1997-10: 8), be given access to certain Department of Education records relating to the results of the Leaving Certificate Examination (the State examination which takes place at the end of the second-level education...

On 24 July, the CSA (Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel - the audiovisual regulatory authority) signed a new agreement with the company Métropole Télévision (M6). Appended to the decision to prolong the channel's authorisation to broadcast, this will govern the channel's obligations for the next five years. A considerable proportion of the content of the agreement results from the high-profile debate aroused by the broadcasting of Loft Story on M6. A number of points have been added to the agreement with the channel, whose ethical obligations have been reinforced, particularly as regards the rights...

The first Prague District Court has acquitted a former TV reporter after a case lasting 18 months. The public prosecutor's office had taken proceedings against him for revealing state secrets, an offence punishable under criminal law by a prison sentence of two to eight years. The journalist was accused two years ago of showing viewers a secret document, thus threatening the national interest and endangering an official's life by possibly revealing his identity. The secret document also contained details of an attempt by the current head of the security service to protect an official who had apparently...

The Information Society Bill (see IRIS 2001-5: 14) was adopted on 13 June 2001 by the Council of Ministers without any major changes. The Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (the audiovisual regulatory authority - CSA) and the Commission national informatique et libertés (CNIL - National Commission for IT and Civil Liberties), both closely concerned with the subject, have given their opinions on the provisions of the Bill. The length of time during which connection data is retained for investigative purposes remains fixed by the Council of Ministers at a maximum of one year. This very controversial...

On 16 May 2001, following a highly controversial episode in a reality show, the Alta Autoridade para a Comunicação Social (the High Authority for the Media) decided to take a stand on the issue. On 15 May 2001, during prime time, the private terrestrial channel Sociedade Independente de Comunicação (SIC) broadcast an emotional row between a contestant in Bar da TV (a "Big Brother" type of programme) and her parents. Shocked by erotic behaviour in Bar da TV, the parents of a female contestant, Margarida, asked the production team to let them talk to their daughter. The live broadcast of a tearful...