Strengthening Media Freedom: the Protection of Journalists in Europe, Hate Speech, Disinformation and the Role of Platforms

Summary:

Resolution adopted by the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on media freedom across the European Union (EU).

Further information:

The report highlights that tackling media capture, hate speech and disinformation is not only relevant to human rights, it is also a fundamental factor in the defence of the rule of law and democracy in the EU. The report addresses six main issues: media freedom and pluralism, political independence of the media, the protection of journalists, financial issues, hate speech and disinformation. It also makes a number of recommendations for action: addition of a specific chapter on monitoring of media freedom in the annual report on the rule of law; stronger checks on public financing of media outlets; the establishment of a permanent fund to sustain media independence; and a more robust regulatory framework to combat misinformation.

This Resolution was adopted by the relevant committee on 27 October 2020.

Official

European Parliament: Press Release, 19/11/2020: Strengthening media freedom in the EU https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)659358

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