Latest news with #EuropeanMediaFreedomAct
Euractiv
2 days ago
- Business
- Euractiv
EU media freedom law takes effect, but who gets protection online unclear
The EU's new media freedom law came into effect on Friday, offering stronger protections for journalists, but a key provision on online platforms is sparking debate over which media qualify for certain safeguards. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) aims to safeguard press freedom and bolster democracy by introducing transparency measures regarding media ownership and state advertising, as well as robust safeguards for journalists and their sources. The law also seeks to help traditional media outlets compete with social media-based outlets and adapt to the rise of technologies such as generative AI. One provision requires Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, to promote diverse media content and prevent the arbitrary removal or algorithmic downgrading of recognised Media Service Providers (MSPs). The law defines MSPs as professional media outlets with editorial responsibility and oversight. According to a recent report by the Reuters Institute, people are increasingly using these platforms to consume news, and the growing influence of the platforms, based on which content they amplify or suppress, is contributing to a 'fragmented alternative media environment' filled with podcasters, YouTubers, and TikTokers. The tricky task of defining MSPs The law requires VLOPs to allow MSPs to self-declare, but the European Commission is yet to issue guidelines on how this process will work. Although the Commission sought input in a consultation that closed on 23 July, defining who qualifies as an MSP is proving difficult. The law already sets out criteria relating to editorial responsibility, transparency and independence, but the forthcoming guidelines could expand on these. Online platforms have long struggled with the kind of assessments needed to identify bad faith actors, which makes the task even harder. In its response to the Commission's consultation, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) recommended that MSPs have access to a contact within VLOPs who has expertise in this area. Additionally, while public broadcasters are relatively easy to verify, commercial media and less traditional entities, such as social media influencers, present more of a challenge. Some EU countries maintain databases of recognised news organisations, though these are not harmonised across the bloc. The EMFA provision lists criteria for MSP status, such as oversight by a national regulator or membership of a self-regulatory body, but the Commission suggested clarifying that these are not cumulative. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) backs this. What about influencers? On influencers, News Media Europe states that the EMFA's rules on editorial responsibility, transparency, and independence are sufficient to distinguish between professional news outlets and non-professional entities, such as influencers. However, the EFJ argues that influencers or bloggers who operate professionally and ethically by following best practices provided by a recognised self-regulatory body for instance, should be included. For Constantin Gissler, Director General of tech lobby DOT Europe, tightening the "definition of 'media service provider' (MSP) is key." "Otherwise, there's a real risk of bad faith actors claiming protections meant for legitimate media." (nl, de)
Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Landmark EU media law enters into force to protect journalism
The EU's landmark Media Freedom Act (EMFA) entered into force today, with the aim of providing better protection for the press and making media ownership more transparent. The law will also limit the use of spyware against journalists, enhance the transparency of state advertising, and strengthen the independence of public media. The new rules also increase protection for journalists and for their sources. Social media platforms should also refrain from arbitrarily deleting or restricting content from independent media. The law was drafted by the European Commission and supported overwhelmingly by the European Parliament's plenary vote in 2024. "With the European Media Freedom Act entering into application, media and journalists across the EU gain unprecedented safeguards, and citizens can trust that the news they receive is driven by facts, not by business or political agenda,' - Michael McGrath,** Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, said. 'The entry into application of the EMFA is a landmark for press freedom in the EU. But its true value will be measured in action, not words. Now begins the real work: ensuring every member state implements the EMFA fully and faithfully. Media freedom is not negotiable - it is the backbone of our democracy,' said Sabine Veheyen, a German EPP MEP, who chairs Parliament's working group scrutinising the law's implementation. Nela Riehl, a German MEP from the Greens/EFA group and the chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, said member states should adhere to the rules. 'With the Media Freedom Act, Europe has set the benchmark for the protection of press freedom and journalistic work. This is a great achievement. But it is only meaningful if we adhere to it. I am looking with concern at the decline in press freedom in different parts of Europe and call on all member states to implement it dutifully.' The European Commission proposed the new rules as media freedom has declined in many member states. Recent EU Rule of Law Reports have highlighted ongoing concerns about media freedom and pluralism across the EU, noting a worrying decline in media freedom and safety of journalists in some member states, notably in Hungary, Poland and Greece. Investigative journalists Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta and Ján Kuciak in Slovakia have been assassinated because of their work. According to the new rules, governments could only use spyware on journalists as a last resort, if national security is in danger. Earlier, both Hungary and Poland allegedly used Pegasus spyware on journalists. A new EU body, called the European Board for Media Services, will oversee the implementation of the laws. The Media Freedom Act is the first-ever EU regulation related to the press.
Irish Examiner
18-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Sustainable funding essential to ensure future of public service media, say broadcasters
Multiannual, sustainable funding is essential to ensure the future of public service media, according to broadcasters. Ireland is currently among the bottom 10 of 46 countries included in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) with just 0.08% of GDP going towards public service media funding. The is below the EBU average of 0.14%. Director general of TG4, Deirdre Ní Choistín, will tell the Oireachtas media committee that any multiannual funding arrangement must be adequate, predictable and sustainable. Also appearing before the committee are representatives from Virgin Media Television, Screen Producers Ireland and the Community Television Association. The representatives have been invited to give their insights and input as part of pre-legislative scrutiny of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill. Managing director of Virgin Media Television, Áine Ní Chaoindealbháin, will note that Virgin Media Television is entirely funded through advertising and commercial revenues and is the only Irish broadcaster with a public service content remit that is not in receipt of public funding. In her opening statement, Ms Ní Chaoindealbháin will tell the committee that delivering its public service remit on a purely commercial basis is not viable under current funding arrangements. While the proposed media fund is welcomed, Ms Ní Chaoindealbháin highlights that the funding allocation is based on additionality only and so the challenge to maintain its existing remit and output remains. Both TG4 and Virgin Media Television emphasise the importance of media plurality and diversity are crucial for a democratic society. The new platform-neutral media fund will see 25% of any new fund allocated to Irish language, something Ms Ní Choistín believes will strengthen TG4's work with the independent production sector and support Gaeltacht and regional employment. Proposals around funding are largely welcomed, however, Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) will raise concerns around new frameworks set out in the bill and whether it complies with the European Media Freedom Act. CEO of SPI Susan Kirby will also tell the committee that commissioning independently produced content on a year-round basis is essential for the successful development of the independent production sector.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Press freedom and pluralism face ‘existential battle' across EU, report finds
Media pluralism in many EU member states is being increasingly strangled by a high concentration of ownership, even in countries with traditionally free media markets, according to a report that concludes press freedom is crumbling across the bloc. The report, produced by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) based on the work of 43 human rights groups from 21 countries, said several EU governments were attacking press freedom or weakening media independence and regulation. Along with weak ownership transparency rules, growing government influence over public media and threats against journalists, media freedom and pluralism were 'under attack across the EU, and in some cases in an existential battle', it said. 'This isn't a surprise,' said Jonathan Day, the report's lead editor. 'Governments' efforts to weaken the rule of law and democratic institutions almost always start by seeking to control their country's media landscape.' Day said the EU's attempt to safeguard media freedom, the European Media Freedom Act (Emfa), was 'already facing resistance even before it's fully in force. How successfully it is enforced may be make-or-break for media freedom in some member states.' Media ownership The report singled out an excessive concentration of media ownership as a particular concern in Croatia, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, with ownership often concentrated in the hands of a few ultra-wealthy individuals. This was exacerbated by inadequate transparency of media ownership, it said, with many member states failing to set up publicly accessible databases required by the Emfa, almost all of which is due to come fully into force in August. The binding legislation aims to guarantee the protection of journalists and sources, independence of regulatory bodies and full ownership transparency — but many member states 'seem unready if not unwilling to fully enforce' it, the report said. France faced 'significant media pluralism challenges', the report said, highlighting Vincent Bolloré's acquisition of the Hachette group and installation, at several of its publishing houses, of executives sympathetic to the conservative billionaire's views. In Italy, the report noted the planned acquisition of AGI, a leading news agency, by the Angelucci Group, headed by Antonio Angelucci, an MP from the far-right Lega party who already owns Italian newspapers including Il Giornale, Libero and Il Tempo. Bonnier owns 43% of all subscription-based multi-day newspapers in Sweden; while Schibsted owns 13 more including Aftonbladet and Svenska Dagbladet. The Dutch online media market, meanwhile, is dominated by websites owned by DPG Media, Mediahuis and RTL Nederland — with the former announcing plans in late 2023 to acquire the latter, a move being investigated by the consumer and markets authority. Concerns over pluralism are also rising in Germany, where many local newspapers, hit by digitisation and declining readership, are closing offices. Nearly half of all German newspaper publishers have reduced their editorial staff and 62% expect further cuts. The report also found that journalists remain vulnerable to hate speech and attacks, suffering police violence in France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Spain. Guardian Read More Electricity restored to 99% of Spain and most of Portugal after massive power outage
The Guardian
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Press freedom and pluralism face ‘existential battle' across EU, report finds
Media pluralism in many EU member states is being increasingly strangled by a high concentration of ownership, even in countries with traditionally free media markets, according to a report that concludes press freedom is crumbling across the bloc. The report, produced by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) based on the work of 43 human rights groups from 21 countries, said several EU governments were attacking press freedom or weakening media independence and regulation. Along with weak ownership transparency rules, growing government influence over public media and threats against journalists, media freedom and pluralism were 'under attack across the EU, and in some cases in an existential battle', it said. 'This isn't a surprise,' said Jonathan Day, the report's lead editor. 'Governments' efforts to weaken the rule of law and democratic institutions almost always start by seeking to control their country's media landscape.' Day said the EU's attempt to safeguard media freedom, the European Media Freedom Act (Emfa), was 'already facing resistance even before it's fully in force. How successfully it is enforced may be make-or-break for media freedom in some member states.'. The report singled out an excessive concentration of media ownership as a particular concern in Croatia, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, with ownership often concentrated in the hands of a few ultra-wealthy individuals. This was exacerbated by inadequate transparency of media ownership, it said, with many member states failing to set up publicly accessible databases required by the Emfa, almost all of which is due to come fully into force in August. The binding legislation aims to guarantee the protection of journalists and sources, independence of regulatory bodies and full ownership transparency – but many member states 'seem unready if not unwilling to fully enforce' it, the report said. France faced 'significant media pluralism challenges', the report said, highlighting Vincent Bolloré's acquisition of the Hachette group and installation, at several of its publishing houses, of executives sympathetic to the conservative billionaire's views. In Italy, the report noted the planned acquisition of AGI, a leading news agency, by the Angelucci Group, headed by Antonio Angelucci, an MP from the far-right Lega party who already owns Italian newspapers including Il Giornale, Libero and Il Tempo. Bonnier owns 43% of all subscription-based multi-day newspapers in Sweden; while Schibsted owns 13 more including Aftonbladet and Svenska Dagbladet. In the Netherlands, RTL Nederland and Talpa Network own more than 75% of the TV market. The Dutch online media market, meanwhile, is dominated by websites owned by DPG Media, Mediahuis and RTL Nederland – with the former announcing plans in late 2023 to acquire the latter, a move being investigated by the consumer and markets authority. Concerns over pluralism are also rising in Germany, where many local newspapers, hit by digitisation and declining readership, are closing offices. Nearly half of all German newspaper publishers have reduced their editorial staff and 62% expect further cuts. Media ownership concentration – and state media interference – are at their peak in Hungary, where the Central European Press and Media Foundation (Kesma), run by loyalists of Viktor Orbán, the prime minister, owns several hundred media companies. Oligarchs close to Orbán began buying up major media outlets in 2010, then 'donated' them to Kesma, which since 2018 has functioned as 'a centralised, pro-government media conglomerate' relying on state advertisements for funding, the report said. Beyond Hungary, governments also exercise influence over national media through the opaque allocation of state advertising funds, or favouring government-friendly outlets, in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Malta, Slovenia and Spain, the report found. The report said public media was a 'fully captured government mouthpiece' in Hungary, and heading that way in Slovakia, where new laws have scrapped safeguards for editorial independence. Public media is also vulnerable in Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria and Italy, it said. The report also found that journalists remain vulnerable to hate speech and physical attacks, suffering police violence in 2024 in France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Spain. In some countries, female journalists were disproportionately targeted. It said abusive Slapp (strategic litigation against public participation) lawsuits were a 'potentially existential threat' in at least a dozen EU countries, with the prime minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, instigating one Slapp case against a journalist. Public officials had also hampered journalists' work by resisting or outright refusing freedom of information requests in several countries including Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Malta, the Netherlands and Spain, the report said.
