The Facebook page of Georgian investigative outlet Studio Monitor has been restored after being unavailable for approximately 12 hours.
In a statement, the outlet said the page had been blocked as a result of a cyberattack.
“For several hours, our page was blocked due to a cyberattack. Thank you for your support. Please continue to help us by engaging with our content and stay tuned for our new investigation into fraudulent call centers,” Studio Monitor said.
The outlet’s Facebook page disappeared on the morning of August 3. Journalist Mari Dudunia shared a screenshot indicating that Meta had accused the page of violating copyright rules, a claim the media organization has rejected.
Studio Monitor Director Nino Zuriashvili linked the removal of the page to the outlet’s upcoming investigation into fraudulent call centers, which was scheduled for publication the same day.
“We are about to publish an investigative report about scammers. A teaser had already been released, and this is likely the third attack connected to that investigation,” Zuriashvili told TV Pirveli.
The incident marks the third disruption to Studio Monitor’s work caused by an apparent cyberattack in the past two months. On July 25, the outlet’s YouTube channel was taken offline under similar circumstances before being restored following an appeal.
Earlier, on July 1, Meta removed several of Studio Monitor’s reports from Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube that examined the alleged links between Georgian construction companies and a network of unlicensed online casinos. Those reports were later reinstated.
The removal of the Facebook page was condemned by the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, which called on Meta to conduct a prompt investigation and restore the outlet’s page.
In its statement, the Charter said cybercriminals continue to operate with impunity in Georgia and alleged that significant resources are being spent on troll and bot networks that regularly target organizations, experts, activists, media outlets, and journalists critical of the ruling Georgian Dream party, while spreading disinformation and attempting to manipulate public opinion.
Related story: Monitor’s Facebook page disappears ahead of investigative report on alleged call centers
