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EU seeks views on media-protection guidelines

The European Commission is looking for feedback on the guidelines it will issue on the implementation of rules aimed at protecting media pluralism and independence. 

The commission says that the guidelines will help to protect media providers from having their content removed without justification from ‘very large online platforms’ – those with over 45 million monthly users. 

The guidelines will help these platforms to implement specific safeguards outlined in the European Media Freedom Act, which comes into effect in August. 

Oversight 

The deadline for submissions is 23 July. 

The act will require the biggest online platforms to notify media providers when they plan to remove their content and explain the reasons for removal. 

Media providers will have 24 hours to respond to the notification. 

“As fundamental players in preserving media pluralism and the integrity of information, media organisations must have more oversight on their content online,” said Michael McGrath (Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection).