Freedom of communication and discharge

Freedom of communication and freedom of procurement

Freedom of communication is the right of every citizen, but not the obligation, to provide information on any subject for publication and publication in constitutionally protected media. To a certain extent, this right also applies to confidential information such as information from non-public documents. Freedom of acquisition can be seen as an extension of freedom of communication and gives the right to acquire the information for the purpose of making it public or publishing it.

There are also regulations in the TF and YGL on exceptions to the freedom of communication as it is not permitted to communicate information if this constitutes certain serious crimes against the security of the country or certain other crimes directed against the state.

Prohibition of investigation and prohibition of retaliation

The ban on investigation means that authorities or other public bodies may not investigate who has left a certain message to the media with the support of freedom of communication. A recipient of such information has a duty of confidentiality regarding the identity of the informant, and a breach of the investigation ban is punishable. Furthermore, there is whistleblower protection for public employees which comes into effect when the freedom of commication has been exercised. This means a so-called prohibition of retaliation for the employer to punish the person who has used his pr her freedom of communication.