Information Note on the Court\u2019s case-law 247
\nJanuary 2021<\/p>\n
Gheorghe-Florin Popescu v. Romania<\/strong> – 79671\/13<\/p>\n Judgment 12.1.2021 [Section IV]<\/p>\n Article 10<\/strong> Award of damages against a blogger journalist for defamation of another journalist, without relevant and sufficient reasons: violation<\/p>\n Facts \u2013 The applicant, a journalist, was ordered to pay approximately EUR 1,100 EUR in compensation for non-pecuniary damage caused to L.B., editor-in-chief of a newspaper and television producer for a local channel, through several articles posted on his blog.<\/p>\n In their reasoning, the courts held that the applicant had accused L.B. of being morally responsible for a murder-suicide without adducing any evidence, and had merely stated in support of his accusations that L.B. had refused to cover the event in question in his newspaper; they also found that he had used vulgar and defamatory language.<\/p>\n Law \u2013 Article 10: The national courts had based their analysis primarily on the adverse impact of the contested statements on L.B.\u2019s honour, reputation and dignity, and on the fact that the applicant had been unable to prove his allegations. The Court noted, however, that the courts had failed:<\/p>\n i.\u00a0\u00a0to distinguish between statements of fact and value judgments;<\/p>\n ii.\u00a0\u00a0to analyse certain essential elements, namely that the applicant was a journalist and that the freedom of the press fulfilled a fundamental role in a democratic society;<\/p>\n iii.\u00a0\u00a0to note that the case concerned a conflict between the right to freedom of expression and the right to protection of reputation, requiring these interests to be balanced;<\/p>\n iv.\u00a0\u00a0to investigate whether the applicant\u2019s statements concerned an area of public interest and contributed to a debate of general interest;<\/p>\n v.\u00a0\u00a0to take account of the extent to which the complainant was well-known figure, or of his prior conduct: it had not been accurately established whether L.B. was a \u201cpublic figure\u201d acting in a public context within the meaning of the Court\u2019s case-law, given his possible involvement in political life or his employment as editor-in-chief and television producer in a media group;<\/p>\n vi.\u00a0\u00a0with regard to the content of the contested articles, to ascertain their purpose: they had merely concluded that the applicant had described L.B. in a negative light that was likely to cause him psychological suffering, concern and distress. In the Court\u2019s opinion, the domestic courts\u2019 reasoning demonstrated a tacit acceptance that respect for private life outweighed respect for the right to freedom of expression in this case;<\/p>\n vii.\u00a0\u00a0with regard to the style of impugned articles, to investigate with sufficient care \u2013 given that the satirical nature of the articles had been the main submission in the applicant\u2019s defence \u2013 whether or not this was a form of exaggeration or distortion of reality, naturally aimed to provoke and agitate, and not necessarily to be taken seriously;<\/p>\n viii.\u00a0\u00a0to assess the extent to which the contested articles had been disseminated, their accessibility, or even the question of whether, as a well-known blogger or a popular user of social media, the applicant could have enjoyed a certain popularity such as to increase the potential impact of his statements.<\/p>\n With regard to the severity of the penalty imposed, the applicant had submitted that the amount concerned was seven times higher than the minimum monthly salary in Romania, without however indicating his financial situation at the relevant time, nor whether he had encountered difficulties in paying the sum in question. The domestic courts had merely listed certain criteria that were to be applied in establishing the penalty, without however applying them, nor taking account of the consequences of this penalty on the applicant\u2019s financial position. In those circumstances, and in the absence of information regarding the execution of the domestic decision, the Court could not speculate as to the penalty\u2019s impact on the applicant\u2019s situation.<\/p>\n In any event, in the light of the above factors \u2013 and in particular the fact that the domestic courts had not correctly balanced all the competing interests, in compliance with the criteria laid down in its case-law\u00a0 \u2013, the Court considered that the interference with the applicant\u2019s right to freedom of expression had not been justified on grounds which were relevant and sufficient.<\/p>\n Conclusion: violation (unanimously).<\/p>\n Article 41: finding of a violation sufficient just satisfaction for the non-pecuniary damage.<\/p>\n
\nArticle 10-1<\/strong>
\nFreedom of expression<\/strong><\/p>\n