EMFA
Filter by...
-
Will the Brussels spyware scandal finally convince the EU to act?
In February, Brussels was rocked by reports of phone hacking and spyware attacks on members of the European Parliament’s defence and security committee. Such intrusions are a huge threat to EU democracy — interfering with decision-making and allowing obstructive disruptions to public debate. Three weeks on, nothing seems to have changed with the EU’s approach to spyware.
Read more
-
The EU Media Freedom Act’s suspension period for content moderation will harm users
In December 2023, the European Parliament and Member States’ representatives negotiated a controversial special status for media outlets in the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA): their content cannot be removed from big tech platforms for up to 24 hours, even when it violates community standards intended to protect users.
Read more
-
Challenges ahead: European Media Freedom Act falls short in safeguarding journalists and EU fundamental values
The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) culminated in a politically pressured final trilogue on 15 December 2023. Unfortunately, the agreed-upon text lacks crucial safeguards against surveillance of journalists, which dangerously promote the use of spyware in the EU. It alsoraises concerns about Article 17 and the “media exemption”, potentially undermining the Digital Services Act (DSA) provisions.
Read more
-
Will the European Parliament walk the talk and protect journalists?
In a democratic society, where we rely on journalists to act as public watchdogs, we cannot have them worried about becoming a target of government-sanctioned spying.
Read more
-
Open Letter: European Parliament must protect journalists and ban spyware in the European Media Freedom Act
As the European Parliament gets set to vote on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) next week, 80 civil society and journalists’ associations are calling on Members of European Parliament (MEPs) to ensure meaningful protection for journalists in the regulation by including a total ban on spyware.
Read more
-
European Parliament’s CULT committee set to greenlight controversial amendment to the EMFA in today’s vote
The European Parliament’s CULT committee is set to vote on the EMFA. The committee is likely to approve the contentious 24-hour must-carry amendment that could make it harder to fight disinformation, and would undermine the Digital Services Act.
Read more
-
LIBE Committee’s opinion fails to include a total ban on the use of spyware in the European Media Freedom Act
EU Parliament's LIBE committee voted on its position on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and failed to call for a total ban on the use of spyware against journalists.
Read more
-
Open letter: The Council of European Union must protect journalists against spyware and surveillance in the European Media Freedom Act
Civil society and journalist associations are calling on the Council of the European Union to reconsider its current position on the European Media Freedom Act, as stated in a recent compromise text. Instead, the Council must take steps to meaningfully protect journalists and their fundamental rights.
Read more
-
Open Letter: Make vulnerability disclosure in the Cyber Resilience Act more secure, not less
The CRA would require organisations to disclose software vulnerabilities to government agencies within 24 hours of exploitation. However, such recently exploited vulnerabilities are unlikely to be mitigated within such a short time, leading to real-time databases of software with unmitigated vulnerabilities in the possession of potentially dozens of government agencies. Read the open letter.
Read more
-
Policy Statement on article 17 of the proposed European Media Freedom Act
EDRi and our members Access Now, ApTI, Article 19, Citizen D, EFF, EFN, IT-Politisk Forening, Panoptykon, Vrijschrift, Wikimedia Germany alongside other organisations are calling to reject Article 17 in its current form altogether in the EMFA.
Read more
-
New EU Regulation pushes for journalism and media protection online
The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) will intervene in the internal media market looking forward to improving the quality of media services and strengthening the integrity of the media market as a whole. EDRi finds particularly important the provisions regarding the prohibition of spyware against journalists and the rules bringing “more protection for media against unjustified online content removal”.
Read more
-
The European Media Freedom Act: a unique opportunity to safeguard Europe’s media and democratic values
Media independence, freedom and plurality are under pressure in the EU. The upcoming European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is a unique opportunity to protect Europe’s media and, by ensuring a diverse information ecosystem, also safeguarding EU democratic values.
Read more