The Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany, delivered a landmark ruling asserting that foreign states do not have the right to pursue defamation claims against domestic media outlets. This decision effectively dismissed the appeals made by the Kingdom of Morocco in a legal battle with the Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) and the weekly publication Die Zeit. The ruling not only upheld previous decisions made by lower courts in Hamburg but also set a significant precedent regarding the limits of legal actions that foreign nations can take against German media.

The conflict arose from reports investigating the use of the Pegasus spyware, which allegedly involves the infringement of privacy and state sovereignty. Morocco had claimed that the articles published by both SZ and Die Zeit harmed its national honor. However, the court clarified that under German law, such claims from foreign countries are not actionable, thus reinforcing the freedom of the press in matters involving international scrutiny of foreign governments.

This ruling marks an important development in press law, as it underscores the independence of German media in reporting on topics that involve foreign governments, especially concerning human rights and digital surveillance issues. The implications of this decision are likely to resonate in future cases where the actions of foreign states may come under journalistic examination, as it diminishes their legal avenues against domestic reporters and reinforces journalistic freedoms in Germany.