The Platform for the Protection of Journalists linked to the Council of Europe has launched an alert regarding threats and publication of personal data of informants. Miguel ngel Rodrguez is chief of staff of the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Daz Ayuso.

The notice describes how the senior regional official promoted a hoax about two professionals from EL PAS while they were investigating a case of alleged tax fraud. The platform now asks Spain, a member of the council, to investigate the case and respond to the actions it has taken following the alert, issued on March 28. It expects a response on June 28 at the latest, the platform says.. The alert, level 2, which concerns, among other things, "acts of intimidation and harassment," refers to Rodrsuez's actions against journalists from eldiario.es and EL PAIS who were investigating Alberto González Amador, President DAZ's partner. The Council of Europe issues alerts about threats to the freedom of the press. Alerts must meet a series of requirements, among others that the information is "reliable and based on facts.' The organization issues alerts at two levels: level 1 refers to murders and "direct threats to life"; and level 2 – which has been issued in the case of intimidation of journalists from EL PAS and the Region of Murcia. Member states are expected to act and address the issues and report to the Platform on actions taken in response to alerts. The Platform warns in its annual report on the state of press freedom about radicalization and polarization, hostile to the exercise of free and independent journalism and mentions several cases related to Spain, such as cases of use of the Pegasus software to spy on Spanish informants or arrests in coverage of protests. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details.