Spain's interior ministry acknowledges secret journalist profiling dossier
A confidential dossier prepared in 2024 by Spain's interior ministry listed journalists with tags describing their political orientation and stance toward the government. The file, which included photographs and commentary such as “independent”, “conservative tendency”, “far right” or “clearly left wing and supports the government”, was revealed by El Confidencial. The Federation of Journalists' Associations of Spain denounced the list as a form of state surveillance that threatens press freedom. The interior ministry has acknowledged the dossier’s existence.
How this was covered
- The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words
Why it matters
It demonstrates how a government agency can compile detailed profiles of reporters, raising questions about press freedom.
How this story developed
- Aug 21 Spanish police detain five suspected migrant smugglers operating from Ceuta
- Aug 31 Four Moroccan migrants were arrested for throwing stones at a Spanish soldiers’ patrol.
- Aug 31 Italy imposed temporary border checks on Spanish travelers.
- Sep 1 Sánchez accused Russian and Israeli‑linked online networks of spreading disinformation about the Ceuta crossing.
- Sep 3 Sánchez announced that Spain lacks proof of Moroccan involvement in the July border surge.
- Sep 3 Spain delayed EU financial and operational assistance to Ceuta pending further information from the European Commission.
- Sep 4 Sánchez stated in parliament that Spain has not received solid evidence that Morocco orchestrated the July Ceuta migrant surge.
- Sep 5 The government has assumed control of Ceuta's port to install temporary tents, rest areas and medical facilities for migrants remaining after the recent invasion.
- Sep 6 Sánchez redirected accusations toward organized crime groups and far‑right actors.
- Sep 6 The port authority’s board issued a report contesting the tent placement after the government’s takeover.
- Sep 8 The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed that its communications unit created a confidential dossier ranking dozens of journalists by political orientation and stance toward Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government.
- Sep 9 Supreme Court issued a precautionary order halting the electoral effect of CERA registrations linked to the contested expansion of the grandchildren law.
- Sep 9 The interior ministry publicly acknowledged creating the dossier.
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