Today is World Press Freedom Day and in a message to mark the day, the Guyana Press Association urged the government to assure journalists and media houses that it does not and will not utilise spyware to monitor their work and activities in the digital space.

The Association said journalists are also be urged to be wary of what they download and from which sources on their mobile phones and other electronic devices as such acts can potentially install Spyware that can access their information and contacts.

According to the GPA, Media houses should of necessity take the requisite action to minimise the surveillance and monitoring of their work in violation of the freedom to receive and impart ideas.

It was noted that State intelligence gathering agents no longer have to monitor journalists and media houses around the world by their physical presence since that can now be done using spyware to ascertain journalists’ sources and so impose sanctions and take other actions against those sources and journalists themselves.

This year’s World Press Freedom Day is being observed under the theme “Journalism Under Digital Siege”.

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