In a recent move, European Union (EU) lawmakers have taken steps to curb the unchecked power of major social media platforms over the removal of independent journalism that goes against their terms of service. The European Parliament’s recent vote outlines its stance on the anticipated Media Freedom Act, targeting “arbitrary decisions by big platforms.”
This revised proposal demands that major platforms, termed as very large online platforms (VLOPs) with an active monthly user base surpassing 45 million within the region, notify media service providers in advance if they intend to remove their content. These platforms are to provide a 24-hour window for media outlets to address the concerns before any content removal or suspension occurs.
The original draft from the European Commission had a softer approach, emphasizing that these platforms respect media freedom, exercise transparency, and provide a post-removal explanation to the affected media providers.
The final shape of the Media Freedom Act remains uncertain, as negotiations involving the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council are still underway. The main focus will be whether the push to protect media content from arbitrary removal by large platforms gets approved or dismissed.
This move by the European Union underscores the ongoing global debate on balancing platform autonomy and safeguarding media freedoms. For marketers and content creators, such developments signify a need for close monitoring, as platform regulations could directly impact content dissemination strategies.
