United Media outlets sent a written request to United Group and its majority share-holder BC Partners asking for a comment on reports that they engaged an outside intelligence and security consultancy which could potentially allow them access to independent media servers holding sensitive data, N1 reports.

The written request was sent on January 8. In it we said that the engagement of that kind of company could affect the security of personal data and confidential communication and sources used by journalists which are subject to strict European Union data protection rules (GDPR) since United Media, N1 and Nova S are registered in the EU.

United Media asked BC Partners and United Group for an immediate, clear explanation of the goal of the engagement and confirmation that no third party has and will not have administrator-level access to servers holding journalists’ communications or personal data.

We also demanded an end to third party and/or company access to United Media, N1 and Nova S servers.

Bearing in mind that United Group Serbia is part of United Group, we asked the management to say if they were informed about the engagement of a the Istok Associates London-based intelligence and security consultancy and if they approved the engagement. What was the point of engaging a company whose main activities are gathering intelligence? What exactly do they expect to discover? Was the goal to, directly or indirectly, gain access to communications, sources or notes by independent journalists? Has any outside company been given administrator privileges or any privileged access to servers? Has the data already been corrupted or transferred?

We have not received a reply so far and we are calling them to answer the number of questions that carry a potential risk to providing independent information to the public.