European Parliament approves unprecedented media freedom law

The European Parliament has given its approval to a groundbreaking media freedom law aimed at safeguarding journalists from political pressures and surveillance within the European Union.

The law encompasses provisions to protect the confidentiality of journalists' sources and prohibits the use of spyware against them.

With 464 EU lawmakers supporting the legislation, 92 against, and 65 abstaining, it marks a crucial step in enhancing transparency on media ownership and preserving editorial independence, reported AFP.

Vera Jourova, the European Union commissioner for values and transparency, described the vote as "historic" and emphasized the importance of protecting independent media for the well-being of democracies. The law's adoption is viewed positively by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which considers it a significant advancement for the right to information in the European Union.

The European Media Freedom Act, introduced by the European Commission in 2022, responds to concerns about diminishing media pluralism and independence in EU countries like Hungary and Poland. Additionally, the law addresses the use of spyware, such as Pegasus and Predator, targeting journalists.

The legislation needs adoption by the EU's 27 member countries before becoming effective.

Jourova, in a debate preceding the parliamentary vote, highlighted the law's provisions addressing critical issues faced by media in Europe, including governmental interference in editorial decisions, pressure on public service media, media surveillance of journalists, lack of transparency in media ownership, and inadequate coordination among media regulators.

Sabine Verheyen, the lead lawmaker guiding the law through parliament, pointed out threats to media freedom in Hungary and referenced the murder of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017. The law includes limited exceptions, with provisions for national security carve-outs, albeit under stringent circumstances and subject to judicial or independent authority approval.

The legislation mandates EU countries to ensure sustainable financing for public media organizations and incorporates safeguards for online journalistic content. It also establishes an independent EU committee to examine cases of potential overconcentration of media ownership, issuing nonbinding recommendations on media pluralism.