The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA): the right to reliable information has been legally acknowledged for the first time
This Friday, 8 November, Article 3 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) will come into force. Adopted by the European Union (EU) last April, this Regulation recognises European citizens’ right to access to diverse sources of reliable information. A historic step forward — made possible thanks to RSF’s advocacy — the EMFA must now be fully implemented by all EU member states.
The right to access to a plurality of reliable journalistic sources had never been legally recognized — until now. At a time when misinformation and malicious foreign interference are proliferating in the EU, this new right, enshrined in Article 3 of the European Media Freedom Regulation (EMFA), provides a legal foundation for the concrete measures that must now be taken by EU Member States in order to preserve the integrity of democratic information spaces.
Article 3 of the EMFA not only grants European citizens a new right, it also requires Member States to ensure that “relevant framework conditions” are in place for the legislation to take full effect. This means that, in the coming months, national legislators must not only adopt all EMFA provisions that support the independent production of reliable information — such as protection for the confidentiality of sources, safeguards for editorial independence, and measures to encourage external pluralism — but also to ensure that European citizens are guaranteed access to this information, no matter which medium is used.
“Throughout the negotiations on this legislation, RSF advocated for the EU to recognise European citizens' right to reliable information, defined by the International Declaration on Information and Democracy as 'the freedom to seek, receive and impart reliable information.’ Our goal has been achieved thanks to Article 3 of the EMFA — a world first. RSF calls on the EU’s member states to show their commitment to reducing information chaos at this decisive moment by guaranteeing journalists the freedom and security necessary for them to do their jobs, ensuring the media can continue funding their journalism, and obliging giant digital platforms to boost reliable sources of information.
The responsibility is on EU member states to act
RSF calls on the EU’s member states to oblige giant digital platforms to boost reliable sources of information. This measure would force the platforms to give more visibility to news sources that comply with rigorous standards for journalistic ethics and meet criteria for transparency and editorial independence — such as the criteria set out by the JTI (Journalism Trust Initiative) standard — without hindering freedom of expression. This would not only help protect European citizens' right to reliable information, but effectively combat the disinformation endemic to social media and strengthen the sustainability of the media.
