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AIG Newsletter 20 September 2022

Advertising Information Group-Newsletter

Lesedauer: 3 Minuten

EUROPEAN MEDIA FREEDOM ACT

European Commission unveils European Media Freedom Act

On 16 September, the European Commission presented the European Media Freedom Act, a new set of rules to protect media freedom and pluralism in the EU. The proposal will complement existing measures on the audio-visual market, but will set new rules and safeguards to ensure the independence and transparency of media market operators.

The Act includes proposals to:

Require EUMS to respect editorial freedom of media service providers and improve the protection of journalistic sources;
Require EUMS to assess the impact of media market concentrations on media pluralism and editorial independence and will have to prove that any legislation can be justified;
Establish new requirements for the allocation of state advertising to media and include safeguards against the unjustified removal of media content;
Enable users to customise the media offer on devices and interfaces;
Establish a new independent European Board for Media Services to assist the preparation of guidelines on media regulatory matters.

The proposal will now be discussed and amended by the EP and Council under the ordinary legislative procedure.

POLITICAL ADVERTISING

EP discusses amendments to transparency and targeting of political advertising

Last week, the EP LIBE and JURI Committees continued discussions on transparency and the targeting of political advertising. Amendments proposed by LIBE showed a unified approach to the file across political groups. However, positions differed in areas such as targeting and amplification. Rapporteur Anna Júlia Doná (RE) suggested a strict limit on data used for targeting without consent. She believed enforcement was difficult, as the Commission had not suggested European oversight in its draft.

During a debate on the JURI opinion, MEPs called for clear rules to support the development of AI systems and the processing of personal data. Rapporteur Angelika Neibler (EPP) argued disinformation must be prevented so that citizens can form opinions based on sound information. She argued the scope should be limited only to those who disseminate political messages and focus on providers of digital political advertising. It was also stressed that it would be important to separate editorial content from political advertising to safeguard the freedom of the media and freedom of expression.

DIGITAL

IMCO Committee adopts corrigendum to DSA

On 12 September, the EP IMCO Committee voted on a corrigendum to the DSA, which was adopted on 5 July. The DSA looked to provide a uniform European response for dealing with illegal content, disinformation and other developments considered to be a risk in new innovative digital business models.

DATA

Insufficient resources can threaten data protection rights enforcement, warn EU bodies

The EDPB and the EDPS have sent an open letter to the EP and the Czech Presidency ahead of the 2023 budget warning they cannot carry out their responsibilities unless their budget is increased. The Commission already rejected the EDPS budget proposal, which requested an increase of staff and financial resources to manage an increasing workload.

The EP will vote on the General budget of the EU for the financial year 2023 in October.

FOOD ADVERTISING

Reports suggest UK Government is to review anti-obesity strategy and ad restrictions

There have been a number of reports in the UK that the Government is preparing to review its anti-obesity strategy, with the Government expected to cut some of the anti-obesity policies previously backed by the Boris Johnson administration. This includes the planned TV watershed and full online ban for HFSS food advertising. You can read the AA’s statement here.