She explained how these risks manifest in everyday life: the disappearance of local media, attacks on journalists, and the proliferation of disinformation. A key driver is the dominant position of large online platforms and search engines, increasingly integrated with generative AI.
The lecture emphasised that the EU has established a comprehensive legal framework to address these systemic risks through the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). In particular, the DSA’s systemic risk assessment and mitigation obligations are crucial tools for safeguarding media freedom and pluralism.
Beyond obligations for platforms, Sally stressed the importance of media organisations actively leveraging these provisions to correct power imbalances with Big Tech and strengthen their role in democratic society.
We thank Sally Broughton Micova for her valuable insights and the stimulating discussion!