Frie stemmer – Freedom of expression made Panama Papers possible

August 18 2024

Gerard Ryle, an Irish-Australian investigative journalist and director of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, has led projects that resulted in the resignation of four prime ministers. He led the world’s largest journalistic collaborations: Offshore Leaks, Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, Implant Files, FinCEN Files, and Pandora Papers. “They are all based on the principles of freedom of expression,” he says.

Please tell us about a specific situation from your own life where freedom of expression was important to you.

Having worked as a journalist in Ireland and in Australia, where the laws on journalistic freedom are surprisingly limited, I was fortunate to have the chance to work in the United States when, in 2011, I took over leadership of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The constitutional protection for freedom of speech in the United States allowed me to instigate and lead what would become the six biggest journalism collaborations in history – Offshore Leaks, the Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, Implant Files, FinCEN Files, and Pandora Papers investigations.

Working with hundreds of colleagues around the world, including colleagues from Norway and with the financial support of organisations like Fritt Ord, we forced the downfall of four world leaders – the Prime Ministers of Pakistan, Iceland, Malta and the Czech Republic – and prompted government inquiries and legislative reforms in more than 70 countries. Many people went to jail as a result of these reports, and they led to official inquiries in dozens of countries.

We also helped change the way investigative journalism can sometimes be done. Rather than competing with each other, we helped each other.

What would you say are the strengths of the freedom of expression situation in Norway today?

There is a reason why we found so few Norwegian names in the big datas leaks that underpinned some of our projects over the past 13 years. Some information that is secret in other countries is readily available in Norway. I believe that secrecy allows the potential for wrongdoing. Eliminating it from our financial system would be to serve the public good.

What are the biggest obstacles to freedom of expression internationally?

Journalists in some countries face obstacles that we in wealthy, relatively open democratic countries can only imagine. Libel laws are used to suppress investigative journalism. Frivolous lawsuits are a weapon of choice for the rich and powerful and the corrupt. In some countries, journalists also risk their lives just by publishing certain information. I believe that collaborations are one way to mitigate both these risks and to get out information that is in the public interest to get out.

Which struggle for freedom of expression would you say is partially forgotten today?

I think the disparity in the libel laws in various countries – even within Europe – is something that is often forgotten. The days when people can “libel shop” are still alive. They can choose the country from which to sue even if the publication was not intended to be made from that country.

News

New Oxford fellow – How Journalists Interview “Monsters and Victims”

October 14 2025

VG journalist Håkon F. Høydal has been awarded Fritt Ord’s journalism fellowship at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford in the spring of 2026.
His project explores what journalists can learn from new trauma research when interviewing both “monsters and victims” in crime and abuse cases.

The Genocide in Gaza and Big Tech

October 2 2025

Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 3.30 PM at Cinemateket, Oslo
Fritt Ord, Masahat and Oslo Dokumentarkino invite you to a lecture and conversation with Nadim Nashif about Big Tech’s complisity in the genocide in Gaza.

What's happening in Georgia?

September 22 2025

Monday 29 September 2025 at 6.30–8 pm at Vega Scene, Oslo

“While art is often relegated to the bottom of financial priorities, it paradoxically becomes the first target of dictators.”

Fritt Ord invites you to a presentation of a hyper-relevant, upcoming documentary film “Untitled” from Georgia and a conversation with two film directors about the political developments in the country in collaboration with Oslo Dokumentarkino, Stray Dogs Norway, Viken Filmsenter and the Norwegian Film Federation. Journalist Ingerid Salvesen is the moderator. For the safety of the filmmakers, we will not mention their names in advance.

“This documentary is not for the faint of heart” New grants awarded in September 2025.

September 19 2025

Integral Film has been given grant for the production of the documentary “Rehearsal for Justice” by Palestinian filmmaker Dalia AlKury. “The film is not for the faint of heart,” says the director. See all the projects that received funding in September 2025.