FIPP, EPC, ENPA, WAN-IFRA, & EMMA, issue joint statement condemning cyber-attack on Portugal’s Impresa

FIPP (Connecting Global Media), EPC (The European Publishers Council) WAN-IFRA (The World Association of News Publishers), EMMA (European Magazine Media Association) and ENPA (European Newspaper Publishers’ Association) strongly condemn the cyber-attack on Portuguese media company, Impresa, which has taken offline both the Expresso newspaper site and SIC TV.

This is a criminal act that not only breached cyber-security laws, but also included a ransom demand published across Impresa websites. We stand in solidarity with Impresa as they attempt to recover from this appalling attack.

In a digital age, online crimes are no less serious than those committed in the physical world and must be dealt with accordingly. We strongly encourage the Portuguese government to fully investigate and prosecute this crime.

This attack represents a direct attempt to undermine freedom of speech and the free and independent press, at a time when the need for an independent and professional media has never been greater.

A free and accurate press is a key aspect of democratic societies, and we thoroughly condemn those who attack it in any form.

You can read more about the Impresa cyber-attack here.