Canada calls for action from social media platforms to safeguard 2019 elections
15 February 19
Carolina Limbatto
The Canadian government has launched a plan to protect the next federal elections of October 2019 from foreign interference and opinion manipulation. The plan recommends social and digital platforms to implement specific measures to increase transparency and reduce disinformation.
European Parliament and the Council reach informal agreement on copyright reform
14 February 19
Laura Sboarina
The agreement foresees that content sharing platforms (except if they are new and small) would be liable for making available copyrighted works identified by rights holders, if they cannot demonstrate (in case of no authorisation) to have made their best efforts to prevent their availability.
Fighting online disinformation in the light of upcoming EU elections
13 February 19
Olha Hruba
The role of the national media regulators (NRAs), data protection authorities (DPAs) and electoral authorities as well as their cooperation were discussed. One actor cannot deal with the problem, however it is not clear yet how exactly national authorities will cooperate to fight online disinformation during elections in the EU.
Mexican competition authority conditionally clears the Disney/Fox merger
13 February 19
Carlos Castellanos
The authority concluded that the transaction did not raise competition concerns after the parties committed to divest Disney’s share in Disney Studios Sony Pictures releasing of Mexico (WDSSPR) to Sony Pictures. The IFT, however, still has to give its approval in relation to the content distribution markets.
Several broadcasting projects in IFT’s 2019 work plan
11 February 19
Carlos Castellanos
IFT announced the start of the second-round review of the asymmetric obligations on the preponderant agent, Televisa, and, aiming to foster competition in the pay TV sector, the launch of an impact assessment of the current must-carry and must-offer regulatory framework.
European Parliament committees discuss proposed regulation on removing terrorist content online
05 February 19
Jerome Dheur
The amendments tabled by the rapporteurs in the two committees (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and Culture and Education) aim to ensure that the proposal does not jeopardise fundamental rights (such as freedom of expression and media pluralism)