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Regulation News

Online gambling advertising and self-regulation: a pan-European Code of conduct
posted on 10 July, 2020   (public)
A self-regulatory code to promote responsible online gambling advertising with a particular focus on minors and social media   On 28 April 2020, the European Gaming and Betting Association, EGBA, has published the first pan-European Code of Conduct on responsible...
Online hate in France - the ‘Avia Law’: the end of an intensive legislative saga
posted on 08 July, 2020   (public)
The risk raised by online harm cannot justify disproportionate restrictions of the freedom of expression In recent months, there have been intensive debates in France around the draft Law aimed at fighting online hate content - better known as the ‘Avia...
AVMSD: Long-awaited EU Commission guidelines published at last
posted on 08 July, 2020   (public)
Shedding light on key concepts relating to European works and video-sharing platform services On 2 July 2020, the European Commission published guidelines related to European works and video-sharing platforms. The publication of these guidelines, which had been eargerly...
A new Chairperson for the Spanish National Authority for Markets and Competition
posted on 01 July, 2020   (public)
Cani Fernández, new Chairwoman at CNMC Ms Cani Fernández Vicién has been appointed as the new Chairwoman of the CNMC from 17 June onwards.  A lawyer and expert in European Union Competition Law, she used to advise companies,...
Key findings from the Reuters Digital News Report 2020
posted on 22 June, 2020   (public)
Impact of Covid-19 crisis on news: serious economic threats but also opportunities to reinvent relationship with audience The latest edition of the Reuters Digital News Report, which was published on 16 June 2020, is based on surveys completed in January...
Bernard Maissen appointed as new Director of the Swiss OFCOM
posted on 02 June, 2020   (public)
Currently Deputy Director and Head of the Media Division of OFCOM, he will take up his position as Director of the authority as of 1st July A trained journalist with background in management, Bernard Maissen has worked for several media providers and was the editor in...
OFCOM (CH): new comic strip stories to encourage a safe use of digital technologies
posted on 15 May, 2020   (public)
Raising  awareness about online harms through comics Building on the successful series of stories published in 2010 and 2015 as part of a national prevention campaign to highlight the dangers of digital life, the Swiss regulator OFCOM has released 12 new comic strips...
Assessing the Code of Practice on Disinformation: ERGA’s Recommendations
posted on 12 May, 2020   (public)
  Greater transparency, stronger commitments and a harmonised framework for a truly co-regulatory approach  The European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) has been requested to assist the European Commission in assessing the effectiveness of the...
Children's rights in a digital environment: French DPA opens public consultation (update - 3 June 2020)
posted on 23 April, 2020   (public)
  Protecting minors' data while respecting their rights: the CNIL is looking for feedback As part of a global reflection on online children’s rights, the CNIL, the French Data Protection Authority (DPA) is running a public consultation from 21 May to 1 June...
Misinformation and responsible screen use during the COVID-19 crisis: Catalan CAC launches awareness campaign
posted on 22 April, 2020   (public)
How to encourage a responsible use of media in times of lockdown? An initiative from the Catalan audiovisual authority Most of European countries are experiencing lockdown restrictions, increasing the exposure of citizens to media and also to misinformation. In response, as...
Ofcom publishes research on audience expectations in a digital world
posted on 15 April, 2020   (public)
While people feel more responsible for choosing what they watch, they  expect regulation to focus on harmful content and the protection of minors This qualitative study, conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of UK regulator Ofcom, aims to understand how audience expectations...
Covid-19: overview of key initiatives at European level
posted on 14 April, 2020   (public)
Mapping of key developments, reminding about fundamental rights… As crisis threatens to jeopardize media sustainability, European institutions highlight vital role of media (News item updated on 12 May 2020 with information on ERGA) In times of crises, the media are...
Covid-19 crisis: AAAVMS (MK) grants financial aid to broadcasters to cope
posted on 08 April, 2020   (public)
Financial help from the regulator to ensure the primary role and obligations of broadcasters towards the public in times of crisis Bearing in mind the negative impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on all areas, here also including the audiovisual industry, the Agency for Audio...
Key take-aways of CoE study on Supporting Quality Journalism through Media and Information Literacy
posted on 07 April, 2020   (public)
Mapping of 68 MIL initiatives reveals  mismatch between projects and needs On 23 March 2020, the Council of Europe published a study on 'Supporting quality journalism through media and information literacy' authored by media literacy experts Martina Chapman and...
French CSA reports on online sports market and consumption
posted on 02 April, 2020   (public)
While the online sport offer does not yet jeopardize traditional TV broadcasters, the current environment provides a fertile ground for expansion On 31 March 2020, the CSA and the HADOPI (the Haute Autorité pour la Diffusion des Œuvres et la Protection des droits...
‘Think positive’: the initiative of the Belgian CSA in times of lockdown
posted on 30 March, 2020   (public)
Emphasising the best initiatives of the media and cultural industry to brighten up citizens’ daily life Since 18 March 2020, Belgium, like many other European countries, experiences lockdown, a situation which might generate anxiety, stress and create difficulties...
COVID-19 Crisis and PSM: EBU-MIS publishes overview of audience performance and best practices
posted on 25 March, 2020   (public)
The more dramatic the crisis becomes, the more citizens turn to PSM On 23 March 2020, the Media Intelligence Service, the research branch of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), published an overview of the impact of coronavirus COVID-19 disease on the audience of Public...
AI-driven tools in the media: Council of Europe issues background paper ahead of ministerial conference
posted on 20 March, 2020   (public)
'The goal should be to use the affordance of new technologies to create optimal conditions for […] freedom of expression to flourish'. On 3 March 2020, the Council of Europe published a background paper ahead of the Ministerial Conference 'Artificial...
Covid-19: EBU facilitates PSM Taskforce to exchange and check information
posted on 16 March, 2020   (public)
Sharing information to serve European audiences better At the initiative of France Télévisions, the French public  broadcaster, and facilitated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), an e-mail group gathering about 20 news desks of major PSBs in Europe,...
Fighting against information disorder: French CSA unveils monitoring work plan
posted on 16 March, 2020   (public)
A Project Team, an Expert Committee and requesting data from online platforms: this is how the French CSA is dealing with its new tasks regarding information disorder on online platforms The Law on the fight against information disorder (LOI n° 2018-1202 du 22...
Artificial Intelligence: Summary of Observatory workshop on AI in the audiovisual industry
posted on 10 March, 2020   (public)
On 17 December 2019, the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) held a workshop on Artificial Intelligence in the audiovisual industry, aiming at discussing the opportunities and challenges raised in this sector and especially in the journalistic and film fields. A...
Small Screen: Big Debate – Ofcom’s review of PSB for a sustainable future
posted on 09 March, 2020   (public)
A new and interactive approach in order to initiate an open and wide-ranging debate on the future of public service broadcasting in the UK On 27 February 2020, UK regulator Ofcom published a review of the public service broadcasting* (PSB) over a five-year period...
Hate speech online: Belgian CSA calls for new legal duties concerning social networks and online platforms
posted on 05 March, 2020   (public)
Guidance note recommends extended scope of competence and increased accountability of online platforms and social networks Building on the trend observed in several European countries, such as Germany and France, the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel de...
Due Impartiality: UK Regulator fines Baltic Media Alliance Limited £20,000
posted on 25 February, 2020   (public)
According to Ofcom, NTV Mir Baltic failed to remain duly impartial, resulting in serious and repeated breaches of the Broadcasting Code On 17 February 2020, Ofcom published its sanctions decision imposed on Baltic Media Alliance Limited in relation to material...
Finland: a new national media education policy
posted on 20 February, 2020   (public)
A comprehensive, high-quality and systematic media education, targeting all groups of people: this is the objective of the Finnish national media education policy, published on 16 December 2019 This new policy updates extends the media literacy guidelines published in...
Media Literacy: High-level expert conference in Zagreb (Croatia)
posted on 19 February, 2020   (public)
High-level expert conference "Media literacy in an ever-changing world: Integrate. Gather. Empower." to be held in Zagreb  from 31 March to 1 April 2020 The conference will be jointly organised by the European Commission, the Croatian Ministry of Culture...
Ofcom (UK): Dame Melanie Dawes appointed as Chief Executive
posted on 13 February, 2020   (public)
The appointment of Melanie Dawes by the Board of Ofcom has been approved by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport As from early March 2020, Melanie Dawes will be the new Chief Executive of Ofcom, succeeding Sharon White and Jonathan Oxley (the current...
Data protection and children: ICO released final version of the Age Appropriate Design Code
posted on 30 January, 2020   (public)
Ambitious standards at the core of a risk-based approach to take into account the best interests of the child On 21 January 2020, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has released its final version of the Age Appropriate Design Code which...
Refusal to investigate hate speech comments: ECHR condemns Lithuania
posted on 20 January, 2020   (public)
The European Court of Human Rights held that the discriminatory attitude of the Lithuanian justice authorities deprived the applicants of their right to an effective remedy   The facts: In 2014, two young men posted on Facebook a photograph of them kissing.  The...
Blocking access to content previously declared unlawful: a new obligation for online platforms?
posted on 15 January, 2020   (public)
The well-established principle of host providers' limited liability is in the hot seat As enshrined in the Directive on Electronic Commerce of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000, the host service provider cannot be liable for the content stored...

Archived Regulation News

Irish BAI launches Sound & Vision III Scheme
posted on 05 February, 2015   (public)
Irish BAI launches Sound & Vision III Scheme The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has announced on 3 February 2015 a new Broadcasting Funding Scheme, Sound & Vision III. The scheme will see up to €24 million in funding being made available to television...
Two new members for the French CSA
posted on 29 January, 2015   (public)
Two new members for the French CSA On 26 January, the President of the French Republic appointed two new members of the French Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA): Nathalie Sonnac, who was nominated by the head of the National Assembly. She is inter alia...
A new Code of Programme Standards for the BAI
posted on 29 January, 2015   (public)
A new Code of Programme Standards for the BAI The Broadcasting Act 2009 requires the Irish regulator, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), to prepare codes and rules, and to review the effect of such codes and rules in accordance within specified timeframes....
Protection of Minors: Norway adopts platform independent legislation
posted on 06 January, 2015   (public)
Protection of Minors: Norway adopts platform independent legislation During a second reading which took place on 15 December 2014, the Norwegian Parliament adopted a new law on the protection of minors against harmful content in audiovisual programmes. The Ministry of...
Digital Radio Switchover envisaged for 2024 in Switzerland
posted on 16 December, 2014   (public)
Digital Radio Switchover envisaged for 2024 in Switzerland By 2024 all radio programme services are to be broadcast only digitally in Switzerland, mainly on DAB+ platforms. This is the goal of the radio industry, which will cease analogue VHF (FM) broadcasting of its...
Protecting Audiences in an online world, a new Ofcom commissioned research
posted on 09 December, 2014   (public)
Protecting Audiences in an online world, a new Ofcom commissioned research On 4 December 2014, Ofcom published the outcome of recent research conducted by Kardar Media, which deals with audience views of protections for audiovisual content delivered across different...
Measuring Plurality: Ofcom's call for inputs
posted on 18 November, 2014   (public)
Measuring Plurality: Ofcom's call for inputs Ofcom has recently been requested by the Secretary of State to develop a measurement framework for media plurality. On 30 October 2014, Ofcom invited stakeholders to provide their input on how best to measure media plurality....
Second ERGA meeting: focus on regulatory independence
posted on 27 October, 2014   (public)
Second ERGA meeting: focus on regulatory independence The European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) met in Brussels for the second time under the Chairmanship of Mr. Olivier Schrameck, President of the French CSA, on 21 October 2014. ERGA adopted a ...
CoE Committee of Ministers will not resume work on the revision of the ECTT
posted on 21 October, 2014   (public)
CoE Committee of Ministers will not resume work on the revision of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television On 23 September 2014, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe informed that “(it) has not allocated any resources to work on the European...
EPRA meeting in Tbilisi: Presentation of the Georgian Media Regulatory Landscape
posted on 15 October, 2014   (public)
EPRA meeting in Tbilisi: Presentation of the Georgian Regulatory Landscape On the occasion of the 40th EPRA meeting in Tbilisi on 8-10 October 2014, Mr. Ivane Makharadze, Head of the Broadcasting Regulation Department at the Georgian National Communication Commission...
Ofcom: Children and Parents Media Use and Attitudes Report 2014
posted on 09 October, 2014   (public)
Ofcom: Children and Parents Media Use and Attitudes Report 2014 The Ofcom published on 9 October 2014 its annual Children and Parents Media Use and Attitudes Report. The Report examines children’s use of different media and communications, and the role parents play in...
Ofcom: Digital Radio Report 2014
posted on 26 September, 2014   (public)
Ofcom: Digital Radio Report 2014 On 25 September 2014 Ofcom published its annual Digital Radio Report for 2014 as part of the Digital Radio Action Plan announced by the Government in July 2010. The report covers availability, take-up, listening patterns and attitudes towards...
German media authorities publish Digitisation Report 2014
posted on 24 September, 2014   (public)
German media authorities publish Digitisation Report 2014 The Medienanstalten, the organisation that brings together German media authorities, published, in September, their Digitisation Report for 2014, which presents the tenth analysis of the digitisation of broadcast...
Tunisian HAICA publishes Guide for journalists covering the election campaign
posted on 22 September, 2014   (public)
Tunisian HAICA publishes Guide for journalists covering the election campaign The Tunisian regulatory authority, Haute autorité indépendante de la communication audiovisuelle (HAICA), published, on 22 September 2014, a Guide for journalists covering the...
Green Paper on Convergence: Commission publishes long-awaited summary of replies
posted on 19 September, 2014   (public)
Green Paper on Convergence: Commission publishes long-awaited summary of replies The long heralded - and long awaited -  Summary of the replies to the Public Consultation on the Commission Green Paper on Convergence has been published by the European Commission on 12...
Irish BAI unveils successful projects funded from the 21th round of the Sound & Vision II Scheme
posted on 17 September, 2014   (public)
Irish BAI unveils successful projects funded from the 21th round of the Sound & Vision II Scheme The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) announced on 16 September 2014 the list of projects funded from the 21th package of the Sound & Vision II Scheme. A funding...
Spanish CNMC fines Mediaset España Comunicación S.A. EUR 111,000
posted on 15 September, 2014   (public)
Spanish CNMC fines Mediaset España Comunicación S.A. 111,000 € On 12 September 2014, the Spanish National Authority for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has fined Mediaset España Comunicación S.A. EUR 111,000 for failing to separate editorial...
French CSA reports on female stereotypes in TV programmes
posted on 11 September, 2014   (public)
French CSA reports on female stereotypes in TV programmes In July 2014, the French CSA published three studies on female stereotypes in audiovisual programmes. Further to the French law on gender equality, the CSA has the duty to monitor the image of women in audiovisual...
Towards a new regulation of audiovisual media during election campaigns in France?
posted on 10 September, 2014   (public)
Towards a new regulation of audiovisual media during election campaigns in France? On 8 September 2014, the French Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) published a Report on the regulation of audiovisual media during the three election campaigns of the first...
Belgian CSA organises local radio weekend event
posted on 05 September, 2014   (public)
Belgian CSA organises local radio weekend event The Belgian Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) on the occasion of the 100 anniversary of radio and with the support of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels, is organising a local radio event « Studio...
EU Kids Online publishes its recommendations for policy regarding children’s use of the Internet in Europe
posted on 04 September, 2014   (public)
EU Kids Online publishes its recommendations for policy regarding children’s use of the Internet in Europe   The EU Kids Online, a thematic research network funded under the European Commission’s Safer Internet Programme has published in early September a ...
Radio spectrum: European Commission presents HLG Report on future use of UHF band
posted on 03 September, 2014   (public)
Radio spectrum: European Commission presents HLG Report on future use of UHF band On 1 September, Vice-President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes presented a Report by former Commissioner Pascal Lamy on how to use the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) spectrum (the 700...
Ofcom publishes its 11th Communications Market Report
posted on 26 August, 2014   (public)
Ofcom publishes its 11th Communications Market Report Ofcom’s 11th Communications Market Report into the UK’s TV, radio, broadband, telecoms and postal industries, published on 7 August 2014, reveals that a 'millennium generation' of 14 and 15 year olds...
Ofcom fines Discovery Channel £100,000
posted on 16 July, 2014   (public)
Ofcom fines Discovery channel £100,000 On 16 July, Ofcom has fined Discovery Communications Europe Ltd £100,000 for broadcasting unsuitable and violent material on TV before the watershed. Under Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, all licensees must protect...
Over 3,000 on-demand audiovisual media services now on offer in the EU
posted on 16 July, 2014   (public)
Over 3,000 on-demand audiovisual media services now on offer in the EU A new report edited by the European Audiovisual Observatory on On-Demand Audiovisual Markets in the European Union has been published on 10 July by the DG Connect of the European Commission. The report,...
Council of Europe regional seminar adopts key indicators on Independence of NRAs
posted on 30 June, 2014   (public)
Conclusions from the Council of Europe Regional Meeting “Defining specific indicators for establishing and monitoring the transparency, responsibility and operational efficiency of media regulatory bodies”, which was held on 4 June 2014 in , Budva, Montenegro,...
Andalusian regulatory authority announces awards promoting media literacy at schools
posted on 19 June, 2014   (public)
Andalusian regulatory authority announces awards promoting media literacy at schools The Audiovisual Council of Andalusia (CAA) announced, on 6 June 2014, the first edition of the Audiovisual Andalusian Award aiming at promoting media literacy at schools in the year...
Access Rules: Irish BAI opens consultation on Rules for 2014-2018
posted on 16 June, 2014   (public)
Irish BAI proposes changes to Rules on Television Subtitling, Sign Language & Audio Description The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) launched on 26 May 2014 a public consultation on proposed changes to the Rules governing the levels of subtitling, sign language...
French CSA study on viewing figures for television fiction in major European countries
posted on 06 June, 2014   (public)
French CSA analysis on audience figures for TV fiction in major European countries in 2013 On 2 June 2014, the French Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) published an analysis summarising the viewing figures for fiction television programmes in major...
French CSA Report on the representation of diversity in television and radio broadcast content
posted on 05 June, 2014   (public)
French CSA Report on the representation of diversity in television and radio broadcast content On 23 May 2014, the French Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) published its Report on the representation of diversity in the French society in television and...