IPI Demands Probe into Online Smear Campaign Targeting Romanian Journalist Emilia Sercan

January 18, 2026 – Romania –

The International Press Institute (IPI) has issued a formal call for an impartial police investigation into a coordinated online smear campaign targeting Romanian investigative journalist Emilia Sercan, amid widespread condemnation of harassment and death threats directed at her following her reporting on allegations of academic plagiarism involving senior government figures. Press freedom advocates describe the coordinated abuse as both a personal safety threat and a broader attack on independent journalism in Romania.

Sercan, a seasoned investigative reporter known for exposing high-profile cases of plagiarism and corruption, has been subjected to what media watchdogs characterize as a concerted digital intimidation campaign. The attacks include coordinated smears across social media platforms, direct threats of violence, and sustained attempts to discredit her professional reputation, raising serious concerns among press freedom defenders about the safety of journalists covering sensitive political issues.

In statements issued this week, IPI underscored that the pattern and volume of harassment suggest an organised effort rather than isolated incidents of online abuse, and that such actions can escalate from digital threats to real-world harm if left unaddressed. The organisation emphasised the urgent need for authorities to pursue a transparent investigation to hold those responsible to account and to send a clear message that attacks on journalists will not be tolerated under the rule of law.

Press freedom groups have highlighted that digital harassment campaigns — including doxxing, coordinated disinformation, and death threats — have become increasingly common tools of intimidation against reporters in Europe and beyond, particularly for journalists engaged in public-interest investigative reporting. Many advocates warn that failure to probe and prosecute such cases contributes to a pervasive climate of impunity, emboldening further assaults on journalists’ independence and safety.

Sercan’s situation resonates with ongoing debates within Romania about media freedom and political influence, where previous legal actions and harassment campaigns have drawn scrutiny from domestic and international organisations. Calls for an unbiased investigation into the smear campaign align with broader efforts to protect journalists from targeted digital violence and to uphold fundamental press freedom in democratic societies.

The push for accountability now rests with Romanian law enforcement and judicial authorities, who have been urged by IPI and other press freedom bodies to launch a thorough and impartial inquiry into the threats and harassment Sercan has faced, ensuring that digital intimidation does not undermine the essential role of journalism in public discourse.

Reference –

https://www.journalismpakistan.com/ipi-urges-probe-into-smear-campaign-against-romanian-reporter

Romania: IPI calls for impartial investigation as coordinated smear campaign targets journalist Emilia Șercan