The EU Parliament passed a new act today protecting media freedom. The Media Freedom Act was adopted with 464 votes in favour, 92 against and 65 abstentions. It will oblige EU governments to better protect media against interference and limit the use of spyware against journalists. Outlets will also have to transparently disclose information about ownership, funding, and state advertising.
One of the co-authors of the legislation, Slovenian MEP Irena Joveva, said the act is a milestone in protecting the freedom of media, but added that it must now also be implemented the way it was designed to be.
An EU body, called the European Board for Media Services, will be established to oversee the implementation of the laws.