Czech Investigative Journalist Hit by Online Hate Campaign After Exposing MEP Abuse Claims

July 15, 2025 – Czechia – 

A prominent Czech journalist is facing a vicious wave of online harassment after reporting on serious sexual abuse allegations made against a Czech Member of the European Parliament (MEP).

The journalist, whose name has been withheld, broke a story in early July detailing accusations by several women who say the MEP sexually abused them. The exposé prompted swift backlash, with the reporter targeted by coordinated hate campaigns across social media platforms. Abusers circulated personal photos—including images of the journalist’s child—and broadcast false claims that he fabricated the allegations for political gain.

Online harassment ranged from incendiary, misogynistic comments to threats of physical violence. Multiple accounts appeared to coordinate their attacks using identical hashtags and reposted messaging. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X were flooded with these posts almost immediately after the article went live. According to digital media experts, the tactics used are emblematic of “brigading”: organised harassment aimed at discrediting journalists and intimidating them into silence.

Czech media watchdogs and press freedom organisations swiftly denounced the attack. The Czech Association of Journalists called it a “widespread, hostile campaign of intimidation,” and Reporters Without Borders emphasised that such harassment poses a direct threat to independent investigative journalism. The watchdogs called on social media platforms to remove hateful content and urged Czech authorities to investigate the situation under anti-hate speech and harassment laws criminally.

The internal affairs ministry has acknowledged receiving several complaints filed by the journalist, stating that the incidents are currently under review. No formal update or timeline has been provided. Legal experts point out that if the harassers are identified, they could face penalties including hefty fines or even imprisonment under Czech law.

This incident has sparked broader concerns in Czech society about the safety of investigative reporting covering sensitive topics like sexual abuse. With national elections looming and public trust in institutions fragile, watchdogs stress that protecting journalists is crucial to maintaining a healthy democracy.

In response, several prominent Czech journalists have come forward in solidarity, launching an independent petition calling for improved legal safeguards for press freedom and greater measures to combat online hate. The campaign has garnered hundreds of signatures in a matter of days, signalling a growing collective determination to defend journalistic integrity.

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Czech journalist faces hate campaign after exposing abuse allegations against MEP