“We find it very concerning that there is no safeguard against the risk of possible interferences by the Commission.” ~ Ilias Konteas

Based on journalist Taylor Hudak’s highly informative exposé on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) published by Children’s Health Defense Europe, we have nominated Ilias Konteas as our Hero of the Week.

It looks like information control is now being coordinated between the major Western nations. The proposed law, which will be binding for all EU member states, is the European Commission’s latest effort to censor and centrally control information—both in terms of content and dissemination—disguised behind the appeasing words “media freedom” and “protection against misinformation.” The new law will put media regulation into the hands of an unelected Board of Media Services, who will have the power to demand compliance with what they deem and decide constitutes appropriate and legitimate content.

Ilias Konteas is one of the strongest voices and actors standing up against the EMFA proposals. Ilias is the Executive Director of the European Magazine Media Association as well as of the European Newspaper Publishers Association—the two largest trade associations in Europe representing the majority of European newspapers, magazines, and publishers. These associations work to defend press freedom across the European institutions and have been involved in key debates on all new laws that pertain to the press.

Mr. Konteas dubbed the proposed European act the “Media Un-Freedom Act”; if adopted, it will do away with the self-regulation capacities of the media landscape and instead will allow the European Commission to involve itself in how media regulation functions and operates.

We are grateful to eloquent educators and intelligent advocates of freedom like Ilias Konteas and the teams and associations he leads.

Related:

Centralizing Information Control! Inside the EU’s Latest Proposal to Censor the Media by Taylor Hudak

Media vs meddling: Dissecting the new ‘European Media Freedom Act’ (FRANCE 24 English)

European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance

European Magazine Media Association (EMMA)

European Newspaper Publishers Association (ENPA)

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