REFLECT
Antonio Zappulla on cyber threats and elected autocracies
“Journalists are on the frontlines of digital repression”
During the European Resilience Summit in London, Antonio Zappulla, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, discussed how cyber threats are increasingly reshaping the information ecosystem. He emphasized the particular pressures facing journalists, noting that digital tools and legal measures are being used to suppress independent reporting and control the flow of information. According to Zappulla, these challenges are closely linked to the rise of elected autocracies, hybrid regimes that maintain the façade of democratic elections while undermining fundamental freedoms and media independence.
TEXT: SANDER HULSMAN IMAGE: EUROPEAN RESILIENCE SUMMIT
What we are seeing,” Zappulla explained, “is that cyber challenges and cyber threats are becoming the censorship instrument of choice around the world.” This trend is reinforced by a dramatic geopolitical shift: autocracies now outnumber democracies worldwide. He cited the latest V‑Dem data showing 91 autocratic regimes, including elected autocracies, compared to 88 democracies globally. Only 12% of the world’s population lives under a democratic government, while six billion people are governed by autocratic regimes.
Understanding elected autocracy
Zappulla clarified the concept of elected autocracies. “We’re not just talking about dictatorships with no elections. In an elected autocracy, governments hold elections, but the democratic basics, free press, independent institutions, and civic liberties, are hollowed out.” These regimes exploit digital technologies to further their agenda, targeting independent media, civil society, and human rights defenders.
Spyware and phone hacking have become the new digital handcuffs. They extract messages, export data, and expose sources
From shutdowns to surveillance
Zappulla emphasized the frontline impact on journalists. “Internet shutdowns are one of the most insidious tools. They aren’t just technical issues; they create an information vacuum that gets filled with misinformation, and suddenly journalists can’t report or verify anything on the ground.”
Internet shutdowns also carry substantial economic costs. Zappulla noted that over 100 shutdowns are recorded each year, with a global GDP impact estimated at $150 billion. Countries like India and Iran are among the worst offenders, with Iran currently experiencing its longest-ever shutdown following protests in which thousands of activists and journalists were killed.
Surveillance is another growing threat. “Spyware and phone hacking have become the new digital handcuffs. They extract messages, export data, and expose sources. That destroys trust, basic trust, between journalists and the people they cover.”
He highlighted a concerning trend of impersonation: “Accounts pretending to be journalists reach out to sources, or vice‑versa. It’s a trend we’ve seen escalate rapidly, and it’s deeply corrosive to the information environment.”
Weaponizing of the law
Cyber threats are compounded by legal repression. “What we call the weaponization of the law is now used to silence independent journalism. Cybercrime and vague online content laws are introduced and then used to arrest reporters.”
Vague national security legislation allows governments to seize devices, install spyware, and target journalists under the guise of legal compliance. Zappulla emphasized the human impact. “Journalists don’t get cybersecurity training. Lawyers defending them don’t get it either. So when a journalist is arrested, their devices seized, we often find spyware installed. This is now a battlefield.”
He shared examples of attacks on journalists’ families and legal teams, showing how the threat landscape extends far beyond the newsroom.
Spyware and phone hacking have become the new digital handcuffs. They extract messages, export data, and expose sources
Integrity of information
Financial pressures exacerbate vulnerability. Zappulla described newsrooms as ‘the perfect store’. “Advertising, distribution, and now content creation all ceded to big tech. Journalists are experimenting with AI independently, without policies or infrastructure; risking the integrity of information.”
He stressed that maintaining independent journalism requires committed funding. “The good guys win only if there’s money committed to democratic resilience and information integrity. Without that, techno-authoritarian forces dominate.”
Reframing media as security
Finally, Zappulla highlighted a strategic shift in Europe. “The conversation is moving from media as a rights issue to media as a security imperative. Media freedom is now seen as part of democratic resilience.”
This reframing positions independent journalism not just as a civil liberty but as a cornerstone of societal security, critical in confronting the combined pressures of cyber threats, legal repression, and the rise of elected autocracies. 