European Media Freedom Act
The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is an EU regulation that puts in place new rules to protect media pluralism and independence and seeks to ensure that media can operate more easily across borders.
Coimisiún na Meán has been designated as the National Regulatory Authority in Ireland to coordinate certain provisions laid down by the law.
The European Media Freedom Act puts in place a new set of rules to protect media pluralism and independence in the EU. They will ensure that media – public and private – can operate more easily across borders in the EU internal market, without undue pressure and taking into account the digital transformation of the media space.
Among others, the European Media Freedom Act will:
- Protect editorial independence
- Protect journalistic sources, including against the use of spyware
- Ensure the independent functioning of public service media
- Enhance transparency of media ownership
- Safeguard media against unjustified online content removal by very large online platforms
- Introduce a right of customisation of the media offer on devices and interfaces
- Guarantee transparency in state advertising for media service providers and online platforms
- Ensure Member States provide an assessment of the impact of key media market concentrations on media pluralism and editorial independence
- Boost transparency in audience measurement for media service providers and advertisers
The below pages outline the key areas where we are engaged in implementing the relevant aspects of EMFA in Ireland.