Understanding the laws on journalist sources in Germany

German Basic Law guarantees fundamental rights and freedom to persons and organisations active in the field of press and broadcasting. As a result, independence of the press and broadcasting is extensively protected in Germany, which extends to protecting the secrecy of sources of information. There are, however, instances where the protection of journalistic sources can be overridden by public interest.

This Guide provides an overview of the protection of journalistic sources or journalistic material under German law, as well as case law examples from the European Court of Human Rights. It is intended to help journalists and media organisations understand their legal rights and obligations, and continue to report on issues of vital public interest. This Guide was produced by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, with pro bono legal research provided by DLA Piper.