Din l-Art Ħelwa expressed concern at the Data Protection Commissioner’s decision to charge Birdlife Malta with breach of data protection.

“Instead of wasting time on pursuing this ill-advised case, the government should dedicate its resources to the real issue – to clamp down on illegal hunting of birds,” it said in a statement.

Birdlife is being charged with an alleged breach of the Data Protection Act related to a series of videos by BBC journalist Chris Packham during the last spring hunting season. However, Din l-Art Ħelwa said the law could not be used to inhibit freedom of expression.

The journalist who uploaded his films on the internet was exercising his right of freedom of expression and his journalistic freedom and the Data Protection Act could not be used to restrict such rights, the group said.

This decision reflected badly on the right to freedom of expression for civil society in Malta and the NGO said the government should look into it and, if necessary, update the existing legislation.