Journalists are systematically recruited by the intelligence services AIVD and MIVD, NRC . Reports Based on our own research. Journalists who could get into trouble in conflict areas such as the Middle East are also contacted as a result.

The newspaper spoke with 32 editors and reporters dealing with topics on or working in areas of interest to the intelligence community.

Half of the journalists say they have been contacted by one of these two services. In some cases, the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) was willing to pay.

The reason for the NRC tour was an internal document from AIVD that the newspaper saw last month. This document was actually leaked to the PubLeaks website in 2016, but was never published. That document contains the names of 21 “sources and agents”, including eight journalists.

Program makers Sinan Kahn and Thomas Erdbrink warned in the paper of the dangers journalists face when working with the services. Jan says he was contacted in 2018 but declined to be interviewed.

He says he understands that the devices have to ensure state security, but that “it’s still a bad thing, because we take great risks in those countries.”