An unknown assailant recently compromised the Czech News Agency’s (ČTK) website, České noviny, posting fabricated texts about a significant political event. The false report claimed that the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) had prevented an assassination attempt on the newly elected Slovak President Petr Pelligrini, and included a made-up statement from Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský. This misinformation was published in both Czech and English on the ČN website and was also distributed via the CN mobile application’s notifications.
Despite the security breach of the publishing system, the main news service of the Czech News Agency, which ČTK distributes to its clients, remained unaffected. The agency’s internal systems ensured that the fabricated content did not reach its professional news distribution channels. This quick containment helped prevent the spread of false information among major media clients and maintained the integrity of the agency’s reputable news service.
Following the discovery of the breach, the fabricated news was swiftly removed from the Czech Newspaper website, and access to the compromised parts of the system was blocked to prevent further issues. The Czech News Agency has initiated communication with the Security Information Service, the National Cyber and Information Security Agency, and the police to investigate and address the cybersecurity incident. However, the agency has stated that it will not provide any further information at this time as the investigation is ongoing.
This incident highlights the vulnerabilities that news organizations face in the digital age, where their platforms can be misused for the spread of disinformation. It underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and quick response protocols to mitigate potential damages from such attacks. The Czech News Agency’s prompt action in removing the disinformation and its ongoing cooperation with national security agencies demonstrate its commitment to upholding high journalistic standards and safeguarding the trust of its audience.
