In Denmark, also journalists are intimidated

Recently, some Danes have been charged under section 109 of the Danish Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison, for leaking state secrets. One of them is the head of the Danish Defence Intelligence Service, Lars Findsen. Another is the former Defence Minister, Claus Hjort Frederiksen. Danish Radio reports (link to content in Danish) that:

Last month, the Defense Intelligence Service (FE) and the Police Intelligence Service (PET) held talks with Danish media houses, reminding the chiefs that stories based on leaked information could also be a breach of the clause.

And that message is described by the editor-in-chief of Weekendavisen, Martin Krasnik, as intimidating.

Charlotta Friborg at Swedish Television (link to content in Swedish/Danish) says:

I think that what I hear about what is happening in Denmark right now is very worrying. Denmark has a constitutional ban on censorship, just like Sweden. This means that you as a publisher can be held responsible for your publications afterwards. That’s a whole other thing. That authorities call in media representatives to warn or teach, I think is unprecedented

1 thought on “In Denmark, also journalists are intimidated

  1. Webmaster Post author

    Regarding censorship in Denmark, see also the following article (in Swedish) where an earlier case is described that involved stopping the publication of a book: https://www.dn.se/varlden/forskare-jag-tror-inte-findsen-ar-en-dansk-stig-bergling/

    However, the daily newspaper Politken afterwards published the book in a special supplement, despite the ban. For that, the publishing company of the newspaper and editor-in-chief Christian Jensen were fined.

    The book ”Syv år for PET – Jakob Scharfs tid” by Morten Skjoldager was reprinted with a single quote removed and can nowadays be purchased by anyone.

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