MEPs Vote To Tighten Rules To Protect Journalists After Establishing Position On Media Freedom Act
MEPs have voted to tighten the regulations created to protect journalists and public watchdogs throughout the union as part of discussions on the Media Freedom Act.
“MEPs want to ban all forms of interference in the editorial decisions of media outlets and prevent external pressure being exerted on journalists, such as forcing them to disclose their sources, accessing encrypted content on their devices, or targeting them with spyware,” the Parliament stated as part of its position on the act that was proposed by the Commission last year.
As part of its position, Parliament wants to oblige member states to protect media against interference, impose a ban on the use of spyware against journalists, force all media to be transparent about ownership, and ensure fair allocation of state advertising.
Meanwhile, MEPs argued that spyware can only be justified on a case-by-case basis, as a last-resort measure, and if ordered by an independent judicial authority to investigate a serious crime.
MEPs further called for the creation of a mechanism to manage content takedown orders to ensure that moderation decisions by very large online platforms do not negatively impose on media freedom.
Platforms should first process declarations to distinguish independent media from non-independent sources. Media should then be notified of the platform’s intention to delete or restrict their content alongside a 24-hour window for the media to respond, MEPs explained.
If after this period the platform still considers the media content fails to comply with its terms and conditions, it can proceed with deleting, restricting, or referring the case to national regulators to take the final decision without delay.
However, if the media provider considers that the platform’s decision does not have sufficient grounds and undermines media freedom, they have the right to bring the case to an out-of-court dispute settlement body.
Member states have further been urged to ensure that local media have adequate, sustainable, and stable funding allocated through multiannual budgets, parliament members said.
Meanwhile, to ensure that media outlets do not fall into dependency on state advertising, MEPs proposed a cap on public advertising allocated to a single media provider, online platform, or search engine at 15% of the total advertising budget allocated by that authority in a given EU country.
Such data regarding public funds to media should be publicly available, the MEPs continued.
Finally, Parliament called for the creation of the European Board of Media Services which would be a new EU body that is both legally and functionally independent from the Commission and able to act autonomously.
They further pushed for an independent expert group to represent the media sector and civil society, as well as advise this new board.
Since Parliament has adopted its position, negotiations with Council – which has already agreed on its position – will commence. These discussions will determine the final shape of the law.
Parliament’s position was adopted today by 448 votes in favour, 102 against, and 75 abstentions.
This action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament’s grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
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