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Regulation News

Human rights impacts of algorithmic systems: an invitation to comment
posted on 24 July, 2019   (public)
The Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) of the Council of Europe invites the public to comment the Draft Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the human rights impacts of algorithmic systems that is meant to be adopted by the...
Prominence of Public Service Broadcasting in the online world: Ofcom’s recommendations
posted on 19 July, 2019   (public)
UK Regulator is calling for new legislation to ensure that PSM content will remain easy to find online As part of a broader review on the sustainability of Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) released on 4 July 2019, UK communication regulator Ofcom has...
Ofcom expands Media Literacy activities
posted on 18 July, 2019   (public)
UK regulator establishes Advisory Panel and Network, as a recognition of the importance of online media literacy On 18 July 2019, Ofcom (UK) has made two key announcements during an event dedicated to online media literacy, as part of its Making Sense of Media research and...
Making social networks more accountable: towards a new French framework
posted on 18 July, 2019   (public)
The French ambition: introducing a new system of supervision, with the support of the regulator and the country of destination principle at its core Further to the public outcry over information disorder and hate speech online, the social media networks are increasingly...
New composition for the Audiovisual Council of Andalusia
posted on 15 July, 2019   (public)
Antonio Checa elected as new CAA President Following the approval of the nominations by the regional governing Council (Consejo de Gobierno de Andalucía), the new members of the Audiovisual Council of Andalusia (CAA) have taken over their responsabilities on 11 July...
New Chairperson for the Romanian National Audiovisual Council
posted on 11 July, 2019   (public)
On 3 July 2019, Ms. Maria Monica Gubernat was officially appointed as President of the Romanian regulatory authority, the National Audiovisual Council (NAC), further to the validation of the Romanian Parliament. Until recently, she was Vice Chairperson ad interim. In...
CJEU: clarification of the scope of Article 3 of the AVMS Directive
posted on 05 July, 2019   (public)
Restricting retransmission modalities for reasons of public policy is not restricting ‘freedom of reception’ under Article 3 of the AVMS Directive The Court of Justice of the European Union has released on 4 July 2019 a judgment following a request for a...
Takeaways from the 11th ERGA Plenary meeting in Bratislava
posted on 03 July, 2019   (public)
Monitoring the implementation of the Code of Practice on disinformation and reforming ERGA were key points on the agenda The 11th Plenary meeting of the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) took place in Bratislava on 20 and 21 June 2019. One of...
Reuters Institute News Digital Report 2019: news’ consumption in times of political polarisation
posted on 25 June, 2019   (public)
While tech giants are forced to face more responsibilities and on-demand formats are becoming the new business model, concerns arise about quality journalism, for the benefit of more trusted news brands and radio podcasts The new edition of the annual Reuters Institute Digital...
AVMSD transposition: BAI’s proposals in response to Irish government’s public consultation
posted on 25 June, 2019   (public)
Irish AV regulator unveils vision based on a single regulator for all media content and a 'macro' approach with a robust complaints mechanism for VSPs     On 4 March 2019, the Irish government launched a public consultation to inform the drafting of a...
New Ofcom - ICO research: Internet users’ concerns about and experience of potential online harms
posted on 24 June, 2019   (public)
Personal data and bullying identified as major concerns for Internet users A recent report released in May 2019, commissioned by Ofcom with advice from the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office), intends to quantify concerns and experiences of Internet users, grouped...
UK age-verification for online pornography: entry in force delayed
posted on 11 June, 2019   (public)
Balancing privacy concerns with the need to protect children from inappropriate content According to new measures coming into force on 15 July 2019*, commercial providers of online pornography will have to implement a robust age checking system, in order to keep minors from...
North Macedonia: AAAMS adopts Media Literacy Policy Paper
posted on 29 April, 2019   (public)
New Media Literacy Policy based on general and comprehensive concept for a sustainable approach taking into account recent changes in the media ecosystem After having conducted a public hearing, the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services has adopted a Media Literacy...
JUFREX: new regional publication on regulators and protection of minors in South-East Europe
posted on 23 April, 2019   (public)
Transnational cooperation, self and co-regulation and media literacy are key pillars to establish adequate level playing field regarding protection of minors In April 2016, the three-year Joint Programme “Reinforcing Judicial Expertise on Freedom of Expression and the...
EAO's Key Trends of Audiovisual Sector for 2018/2019
posted on 10 April, 2019   (public)
European market still a mosaic of national realities while weight of US-based companies increases The European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) has published in April 2019 its Key Trends from the Observatory’s Yearbook 2018/2019. This report - publicly available on the EAO...
OSCE-HCNM issues Guidelines on National Minorities and the Media in Digital Age
posted on 02 April, 2019   (public)
Tallinn Guidelines call on States to ensure sustainable and effective pluralistic media landscape enhancing national minorities’ representation Building on the 2003 Broadcast Media Guidelines, the Tallinn Guidelines were issued by the OSCE High Commissioner on National...
New President for the Turkish regulator RTÜK
posted on 14 March, 2019   (public)
Ebubekir SAHIN succeeded Ilhan YERLIKAYA as of 23 January 2019 Following the recent resignation of Prof. İlhan Yerlikaya from his position of President of the Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkey and as required per Article 36 of Law No. 6112 on the Establishment of...
New President for the Swiss Independent Complaints Authority
posted on 13 March, 2019   (public)
Mascha Santschi Kallay succeeded Vincent Augustin as of 1 January 2019 Following her appointment on 7 November 2018 by the Swiss Federal Council, since 1 January 2019 Mascha Santschi Kallay is the new President of the Independent Complaints Authority (ICA). She succeeded ...
Estonian regulator changes name further to merger with Consumer Protection Board
posted on 13 March, 2019   (public)
The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority started operations since 1 January 2019 As of 1 January 2019, further to the proposition of the Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, the Estonian Technical Regulatory Authority (TRA) and the...
Online safety and AVMSD’s transposition: Ireland announces public consultation for a new law
posted on 06 March, 2019   (public)
Ireland intends to make online service providers responsible for the protection of minors, under the control of an Online Safety Commissioner On 4 March 2019, Minister Bruton, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in Ireland, launched a six-week ...
EAO reports on national rules for the promotion of European works in Europe
posted on 04 March, 2019   (public)
Mapping highlights fragmented European approaches Within the context of the on-going discussions around the implementation of the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), the need for comparative data and analysis on the different initiatives and rules in support...
Artificial Intelligence: CoE looks at impacts on human rights, democracy and the rule of law
posted on 25 February, 2019   (public)
Human rights should remain at the centre of artificial intelligence designs The Council of Europe is addressing the impacts of Artificial Intelligence on human rights, democracy and the rule of law through an inclusive multi-stakeholder process...
New composition for the French CSA
posted on 18 February, 2019   (public)
Roch-Olivier Maistre took over the Presidency from Olivier Schrameck Following the proposal of the French President Emmanuel Macron and the endorsement by the National Assembly and the Senate, Roch-Olivier Maistre was appointed as President of the Conseil supérieur de...
Children’s Media Literacy: Ofcom’s Media Use and Attitudes Report 2018
posted on 06 February, 2019   (public)
Report reveals shift in media habits towards individual viewing via Netflix and YouTube as children increasingly own their own devices  On 28 January 2019, Ofcom published its Annual Report on Children and Parents Media Use and Attitudes. It provides detailed evidence...
EAO reports on Media Law Enforcement in 8 countries
posted on 31 January, 2019   (public)
Effective law enforcement increasingly dependent on complex multidisciplinary approach The way the Internet and new communication technologies revolutionised the dissemination of audiovisual content across borders has resulted in a digital cyberspace that is overwhelmed with...
Belgian CSA issues positive assessment: PSB fulfilled public service mission
posted on 28 January, 2019   (public)
RTBF encouraged to diversify sports broadcasts and boost off-screen diversity Further to Art. 136, 5° of the Coordinated Decree on audiovisual media services, the Belgian Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA) is responsible for delivering an opinion on how...
Belgian study maps out investment obligations of on-demand AVMS providers in the EU
posted on 22 January, 2019   (public)
Study reveals highly fragmented approach in Member States The Free University of Brussels (Université libre de Bruxelles) published in December 2018 a study on the Obligations on on-demand audiovisual media services providers to financially contribute to the production...
Identifying Media Literacy projects to support quality journalism: Council of Europe MSI-JOQ survey
posted on 15 January, 2019   (public)
EPRA members are warmly encouraged to participate in the CoE survey on Media Literacy projects In Bratislava, members of the EPRA MIL Taskforce have agreed to help identify stakeholders and partners that are working on MIL projects in order to assist the Committee of Experts...
Media Literacy - CoE publishes analysis on best European practices
posted on 15 January, 2019   (public)
Involving a large variety of stakeholders to share and exchange knowledge and resources is key for sustainable MIL projects On 20 December 2018, the Media and Internet Governance Division of the Council of Europe presented a study on “European practices of the Regulatory...
Reminder: EPRA Work Programme for 2019
posted on 14 January, 2019   (public)
Provide your final comments & get involved in an exciting WP! This is to kindly remind you that the deadline for submitting your valuable input for the draft Annual Work Programme, which lays out EPRA’s priorities and anticipated work for 2019, by assembling your...

Archived Regulation News

New audiovisual media services under the jurisdiction of Luxembourg
posted on 07 May, 2012   (public)
The Conseil national des programmes (CNP), the regulatory authority in Luxembourg, has been informed by the Department of Media and Communications of the Government that the following audiovisual media services now fall under the jurisdiction of the Grand Duchy: Broadcast...
Study on the implementation of the AVMS Directive - Promotion of European works
posted on 07 May, 2012   (public)
The European Commission today published the Study on the implementation of the provisions of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive concerning the promotion of European works in audiovisual media services. The study provides an analysis of national legal measures...
First report on the application of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive
posted on 07 May, 2012   (public)
The European Commission today presented a report on the application of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). This is the first application report on the AVMSD and covers the period 2009-2010. The first part of the report looks retrospectively at the...
Freedom of press : OIF calls for vigilance
posted on 02 May, 2012   (public)
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on May 3, Mr. Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), states that the legal guarantees and effectiveness of freedom of press have improved in a number of French-speaking...
Irish BAI publishes Ownership and Control Policy (2012)
posted on 27 April, 2012   (public)
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) published its new Policy on the ownership and control of broadcasting services on April 26. The policy reflects the contents of the BAI Strategy Statement 2011-2013 and the legislative provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009 which...
French CSA consults on short extracts of sport events
posted on 18 April, 2012   (public)
On 17 April 2012, the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), the French regulatory authority, has launched a public consultation on the right to make available to the public, by way of electronic communication, short extracts of sport events’...
COE Recommendations to protect human rights on search engines and social networks
posted on 16 April, 2012   (public)
The Council of Europe adopted two Recommendations on the protection of human rights, notably freedom of expression, access to information and the right to private life, with regard to search engines and social networking services on 4 April 2012. The Committee of Ministers...
Irish BAI consults on draft general and children's commercial communications codes
posted on 04 April, 2012   (public)
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has launched a public consultation on a new Draft Children’s Commercial Communications Code and a new Draft General Commercial Communications Code on 30th March 2012. Under existing rules, commercial communications which are...
AVMS scope: Recommendation of Belgian CSA
posted on 30 March, 2012   (public)
In order to ensure full legal certainty for market players - notably on the internet - with regard to legal provisions which may be applicable to them and with the view of providing a level playing field, the CSA of the French Community of Belgium adopted a ...
Ofcom - Adults: media use and attitudes report published
posted on 29 March, 2012   (public)
Ofcom, the UK’s independent communications regulator, has today published its latest report on adults’ media use and attitudes. The report covers the use and attitudes of UK adults across the key platforms of the internet, television, radio, games and mobile...
French CSA selects six new HD channels for DTT network
posted on 28 March, 2012   (public)
Further to the call for tenders of 18 October 2011 with the view of launching of six  HD channels on the DTT network,  the  Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), the French regulatory authority, has selected, on 27 March 2012,  the...
Protection of Minors & Media Convergence: Report of French CSA
posted on 27 March, 2012   (public)
The French CSA (Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel) has just published a report  on the protection of minors in the era of converging audiovisual media and the internet. The report was prepared at the request of Mrs Claude Greff, Secretary of State for...
Ofcom invites contributions to its review of its Designation of ATVOD
posted on 26 March, 2012   (public)
Ofcom is inviting contributions to its review of its Designation of ATVOD (the Authority for Television on Demand) as co-regulator of editorial content included in video-on-demand (VOD) services. The Designation, which came into force in March 2010, is subject to formal...
Political advertising - ECtHR hearing in the case of ADI v. United Kingdom
posted on 08 March, 2012   (public)
The European Court of Human Rights ECtHR held a Grand Chamber hearing on 7 March in the case of Animal Defenders International v. the United Kingdom. The case concerns the complaint by a non-governmental organisation that it has been denied the possibility to advertise on TV...
Digital Radio: Belgian CSA publishes outcome of public consultation
posted on 24 February, 2012   (public)
On 14 February 2012, the CSA of the French Community of Belgium, published a summary of the answers they  received on the occasion of their public consultation on terrestrial digital radio in order to reflect on the variety of the points of view but also on the concensus...
CICA Declaration on the need for independent regulators in the field of broadcasting
posted on 20 February, 2012   (public)
The Iberian Conference of the Audiovisual Councils (CICA), which convened in Barcelona for its annual meeting on 6 February 2012, made a public statement on the need for independent regulatory authorities in the field of broadcasting. The statement recalled that broadcasting...
Adoption of the first Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP)
posted on 17 February, 2012   (public)
On 15 February 2012, the European Parliament agreed upon the common position of the Council allowing for the formal adoption of the first Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP). The RSPP establishes a five-year policy programme with the aim to promote efficient radio...
CoE Declaration and Recommendation on the Governance of Public Service Media
posted on 16 February, 2012   (public)
In a Declaration and a Recommendation adopted by its Committee of Ministers on 16.02.2012, the Council of Europe urged its member states to renovate the governance framework of public service media in order to adapt to the new communication environment. The Appendix to the...
World Radio Day
posted on 13 February, 2012   (public)
13 February is a date proclaimed by UNESCO to celebrate radio broadcast, improve international cooperation among radio broadcasters and encourage decision-makers to create and provide access to information through radio, including community radios. It’s an occasion to...
Danish Radio and Television Board opens new proceedings in Roj TV case
posted on 09 February, 2012   (public)
On 10 January 2012, the Copenhagen Municipal Court  delivered a verdict in the case vs. ROJ TV and Mesopotamia Broadcast A/S, METV. The court ruled that ROJ TV and Mesopotamia Broadcast are in violation of the Penal Code's provisions about terrorism. More...
Irish BAI consults on Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs
posted on 02 February, 2012   (public)
On 1st February 2012, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has launched a public consultation on a Draft Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs. The draft code sets out the underpinning principles and a range of more specific rules...
MEDIADEM case study reports: Does media policy promote media freedom and independence?
posted on 01 February, 2012   (public)
14 case study reports discussing the policy processes and the regulatory tools that have a bearing on the development of free and independent media  have been published by MEDIADEM. MEDIADEM (European Media Policies Revisited: Valuing & Reclaiming Free and...
Protecting audiences in the era of convergence and Connected TV : Ofcom Research
posted on 25 January, 2012   (public)
On 25 January, Ofcom, the UK communication regulator, published new research which explores viewers’ attitudes to content regulation, as online and traditional broadcast TV services converge, especially with the development of Connected TV. In addition, Ofcom Chief...
Ofcom's 6th International Communications Market Report published
posted on 15 December, 2011   (public)
Ofcom’s annual International Communications Market Report was published on 14 December. This is Ofcom’s sixth International Communications Market Report into the global communications market, and it looks at take-up, availability and use of broadband, landlines,...
Slovenia transposes AVMS Directive
posted on 06 December, 2011   (public)
After years of failed attempts to reform the media laws, Slovenia has finally got the act transposing the AVMS Directive into the national law. The adoption of the Act on Audiovisual Media Services, which entered into force on 17 November 2011, was crucial due to the...
INDIREG study on independence of regulators published at last
posted on 15 November, 2011   (public)
The long-awaited final version of the study on "Indicators for independence and efficient functioning of audiovisual media services regulatory bodies for the purpose of enforcing the rules in the AVMS directive" was published on 14 November 2011. This very...
EU Commission establishes a high-level group on freedom and pluralism of the media
posted on 11 October, 2011   (public)
On 11 October 2011, the European Commission announced the creation of an independent high-level group which will draw up a report for the respect, protection, support and promotion of media freedom and pluralism in Europe. The group convened by Neelie Kroes will be chaired...
UK media regulators launch parents website
posted on 11 October, 2011   (public)
On 11 October 2011, UK media regulators launched ParentPort, a new website aimed at helping parents make their views heard on issues relating to programmes, adverts, products and services. ParentPort has been set up to make it easier for parents to complain about material...
Digital Agenda: further action needed to safeguard children - Commission report
posted on 13 September, 2011   (public)
In a report presented on 13 September, the European Commission reviewed how Member States are implementing EU Recommendations ensuring that children can enjoy the digital world confidently and safely. Member States and industry are increasingly making efforts to implement EU...
Survey on the business models for the on-demand audiovisual media services which are active in the French market
posted on 18 August, 2011   (public)
The French audiovisual regulator (CSA) published a report on the business models for on-demand audiovisual media services that are active in the French market. The survey deals with the cost and revenues models, as well as contracting practices binding the various...