Alice StollmeyerA private phone call between an EU official and a journalist talking about Hungary and Ukraine was intercepted and published online.
An internal security review “found no evidence that any devices, networks or systems have been compromised.”
With only 40 minutes between online publication of the recorded call and Hungarian news publishing about it,
"Alice Stollmeyer, from the NGO Defend Democracy, said the timing suggested the Hungarian media outlet had prior knowledge."
https://www.euractiv.com/news/rapporteur-mette-frederiksens-bad-win/
This is not about which EU official or which EU media.
This is about intercepting and leaking private conversations between journalists and their sources ahead of Hungary's elections — that will be crucial for EU's functioning.
This is about the security of our online conversations.
This is about defending our democracy.
A pro-Orbán media — one of the first outlets that wrote about the above conversation — also published an exchange between the independent great Hungarian journalist @panyiszabolcs and one of his sources. The material was received via a “mysterious email”.
My educated guess is that this 'phone call' took place on WhatsApp.
What does this mean for privacy and security?
Using WhatsApp equals sharing your metadata with Facebook.
Under the current U.S. administration this is downright dangerous.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/01/12/meta-hires-former-trump-official-as-president/
International Press Association raises alarm over illegal recording of journalist.
“Hacking and the disclosure of journalists’ materials strike at the heart of press freedom.. How to pursue those responsible, whether operating from within the EU or from third countries such as Russia.”
https://api1.email-provider.eu/web/exh8n9iwh6/iob4dc8zyg/jttx1epz6d/xjcitkdqel #DefendDemocracy #EUpol #Hungary #Ukraine
François @Jura@AliceStollmeyer instead of signal, there are also EU alternatives like Skred and Element I believe.