The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) condemn the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack against the Mapping Media Freedom platform on 30 September and 1 October 2026 and express their solidarity with the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), which operates it.
The attack overwhelmed the platform’s servers and temporarily disrupted public access. ECPMF took technical measures to restore access and the platform was accessible again on 2 October. ECPMF reported the attack to the Leipzig police on 6 October. According to its latest public update, there is no indication that personal data was affected. The source and motive of the attack remain unknown.
Mapping Media Freedom is the platform through which MFRR records press and media freedom violations in the EU Member States and the accession countries. It is managed by ECPMF, but its monitoring is carried out in cooperation with the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and International Press Institute (IPI). Its verified alerts help identify recurring threats and patterns across countries, providing an evidence base for monitoring, advocacy and efforts to protect journalists, including practical and legal support. The platform enables journalists, civil society, researchers and policymakers to understand where media freedom is under pressure and what action is needed.
The attack temporarily obstructed access to this public-interest resource. It is a stark reminder of the importance of monitoring violations against journalists and media freedom: the disruption extends beyond the platform itself, interfering with public access to evidence needed for transparency and accountability. Protecting media freedom also requires protecting the organisations and digital infrastructure that document violations and make them visible.
As MFRR partners, we stand with the colleagues maintaining Mapping Media Freedom and contributing to its monitoring. This attack will not deter our joint work to document violations and defend journalists and media workers across Europe.
