{"id":"BGR-004","notes":"Coded Sep 25 2026 from Civic Space Watch. Short-lived: withdrawn within days after public pressure.","country":"Bulgaria","sources":[{"url":"https://civicspacewatch.eu/alert/bulgaria-fast-tracked-criminal-code-amendments-threaten-freedom-of-expression/","citation":"https://civicspacewatch.eu/alert/bulgaria-fast-tracked-criminal-code-amendments-threaten-freedom-of-expression/"},{"url":"https://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2025/10/09/bulgaria-wants-to-criminalise-alleged-privacy-violations/","citation":"https://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2025/10/09/bulgaria-wants-to-criminalise-alleged-privacy-violations/"},{"url":"https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/985724-pro-government-parliamentary-group-to-withdraw-controversial-bill-criminalizing-","citation":"https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/985724-pro-government-parliamentary-group-to-withdraw-controversial-bill-criminalizing-"},{"url":"https://bghelsinki.org/2025-10-10-press-criminal-code/","citation":"https://bghelsinki.org/2025-10-10-press-criminal-code/"}],"summary":"On 8–9 October 2025 parliament's Legal Affairs Committee approved at first reading, without public consultation, Criminal Code amendments tabled two days earlier by There Is Such a People: a new crime of disseminating information about someone's 'personal life' without consent, through media or online, punishable by one to six years in prison and fines, with the possibility of surveillance of suspects. Journalists' and civil society groups warned it would silence public-interest reporting on corruption and open the door to criminal SLAPPs. After the outcry the ruling group announced it would withdraw the bill.","tactics":[{"code":"TC-18","role":"primary","label":"Legislative Operationalization","needs_review":false},{"code":"TC-51","role":"secondary","label":"Direct Intimidation of Journalists and Civic Actors","needs_review":false}],"version":1,"channels":["Fast-tracked Criminal Code amendment"],"entities":[{"id":1181,"name":"There Is Such a People (ruling coalition) MPs; Legal Affairs Committee","role":"actor","entity_type":"Parliament"},{"id":1182,"name":"Investigative journalists, media and CSOs reporting on corruption","role":"target","entity_type":"Media; CSO"}],"date_text":"08/10/2025","created_at":"2026-09-25T12:58:53.303044+00:00","escalation":3,"harm_track":"Track 1 — Legal/Administrative","narratives":[],"report_ids":[],"signal_ids":[],"updated_at":"2026-09-25T12:58:53.303044+00:00","occurred_on":"2025-10-08","campaign_ids":[],"enabler_type":"","response_ids":["CR-BGR-001"],"trigger_type":"TR-08: Proactive / Ambient","campaign_phase":"","civic_response":"Journalists' associations, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and CSOs protested. | Outcome (see CR-BGR-001): the bill was withdrawn.","date_precision":"day","enabler_status":"","campaigns_served":[],"consequence_category":"Legal/Administrative","institutional_consequence":"Legislation proposed, then withdrawn"}