Protecting freedom of expression and guaranteeing the independence and pluralism of the media
In the face of digital developments, the Ministry is working to promote, in the negotiations on the European Digital Services Act (ESDA), an ambitious and respectful platform accountability framework for freedom of expression, and new initiatives to combat disinformation. It also ensures the concrete implementation of the neighbouring law of press publishers, to promote a rebalancing of relations between digital platforms within the framework of the European Regulation on Digital Markets (Digital Market Acts).
Encourage platforms to adopt a framework of accountability that guarantees freedom of expression and is concerned about public order
Social networks have become new public spaces, providing tremendous opportunities for free expression. They also carry major societal risks related to information bubbles or massive dissemination of hate content and misinformation. At the heart of the controversy, platforms now set their own rules to fight against these abuses. Arbitrary private censorship without any form of independent or democratic control must be avoided.
For these new types of media, an appropriate accountability framework has yet to be invented, allowing both to protect public order and to preserve freedom of expression. As such, platforms may be encouraged to highlight quality content, including content produced by professional journalists, and to establish partnerships with fact-checkers. Beyond that, the effort must be collective. Media literacy must be developed. The creation of quality and adapted journalistic content must be supported. The establishment of an ecosystem of partners selected on the basis of expertise and ethics must be promoted.
Identify a fair sharing of revenues between digital platforms, intermediaries and content creators.
In this context, the vitality of our democracies depends on the ability of the media, and especially the press, to have a sustainable model for financing and disseminating quality content. The online advertising market continues to grow. Fair revenue sharing must be sought between digital platforms, intermediaries and content creators. The neighbouring law of press publishers, introduced by the 2019 directive and immediately transposed into French law, cannot be circumvented in defiance of the law. The future European regulation on digital markets (Digital Markets Act) must in particular rebalance relations with platforms on this subject. It must also influence the referencing of applications or content, the sharing of data, or the direct relationship with readers.