The European Commission produced the Media Freedom Act (MFA) final yr to forestall political interference in media shops and spying on journalists and to make sure clear and non-discriminatory state promoting.
EU international locations and EU lawmakers are as a result of negotiate the act with the fee within the coming months earlier than it could develop into last laws.
EU international locations met on Wednesday to agree a typical place. They backed a key provision within the fee draft that requires media teams buying smaller rivals to be sure that the offers guarantee media pluralism and defend editorial independence.
Trade physique News Media Europe criticised this stand, saying it didn’t facilitate mergers and acquisitions that will assist media shops compete in opposition to large expertise corporations.
“The mandate does not facilitate media consolidation in challenging times, whereas scale is necessary to compete with Big Tech,” it stated in a press release.
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The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) discovered fault with the EU international locations’ settlement to permit authorities to make use of intrusive surveillance software program in opposition to journalists whether it is justified by public curiosity and supplied for in nationwide legislation. “We see dangerous loopholes that refer to national security, which can put journalists and their sources at risk,” the EBU stated in a press release.
News Media Europe was equally scathing.
“While we welcome safeguards against political interference – including from third country actors – and for the protection of journalistic sources, using ‘national security’ and ‘public interest’ exceptions to spy on news media professionals is simply unacceptable and undermines press freedom,” it stated.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com