On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on transparency and targeting of political advertising
CULT-PA-735573
Committee on Culture and Education · Rapporteur: Sabine Verheyen
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
The Committee on Culture and Education's draft opinion responds to the Commission's proposed regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising. It welcomes the proposal but proposes amendments to clarify rules for offline media and align offline and online providers.¶¶ The amendments add that a message must be both liable and designed to influence elections or voting behaviour to count as political advertising, and exclude editorial content in audiovisual and printed media.¶¶¶ They require transparency notices to include the sponsor's identity, the entity ultimately controlling the sponsor, and spending information, and to be kept up to date and accessible, including for people with disabilities.¶¶¶ The opinion asks member states to designate competent authorities that are independent and cooperate nationally and in the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services, and to consider the size and economic capacity of providers when setting fines.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Culture and Education welcomes the proposal but proposes amendments to clarify offline media rules, align offline and online providers, safeguard editorial freedom, strengthen transparency notices, and clarify cooperation between national authorities.¶¶¶
Key points
- The rapporteur welcomes the Commission proposal but proposes amendments to clarify rules for offline media and ensure consistent treatment of offline and online political advertising providers.¶
- The rapporteur stresses links between the proposal and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the need to protect freedom of expression and the right to information.¶
- The rapporteur says no new authorities are needed; tasks can go to existing national authorities, especially media regulators, but cooperation mechanisms should be clarified.¶
- Amendment 1 adds that a message must be both liable and designed to influence elections, referendums, legislative or regulatory processes or voting behaviour to count as political advertising, considering factors such as the sponsor and content.¶
- Amendment 2 states the regulation should not affect media editorial freedom and excludes political views expressed under editorial responsibility in audiovisual media or printed media without direct payment.¶
- Amendment 3 excludes providers of purely ancillary services from being considered political advertising service providers.¶
- Amendment 4 requires transparency notices to include the sponsor's identity, establishment, spending, funding sources, linked elections and how to flag advertisements.¶
- Amendment 5 requires transparency information to be clearly visible and prominent, and accessible for people with disabilities, using the European Accessibility Act.¶
- Amendment 6 requires transparency notices to remain accessible for one year after last publication, and allows providers that are not very large online platforms to choose the retention format.¶
- Amendments 7 to 9 align supervision with the Digital Services Act and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, requiring member states to designate independent competent authorities and apply existing cooperation rules.¶¶¶
- Amendment 10 requires fines to consider the size and economic capacity of the infringer and to be effective, proportionate and dissuasive, ensuring political debate remains open.¶
- Amendments 11 to 26 update references, require remuneration for political actor advertising, add transparency details, protect offline and small media, and give national regulators competence to monitor the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Political advertising service providers, including offline and online providers, who must comply with transparency and targeting rules.¶¶
- Media outlets, including printed media and small media enterprises, which receive special consideration and are excluded for editorial content.¶¶¶
- National regulatory authorities and bodies, which must be independent and cooperate across borders.¶¶¶
- People with disabilities, who must be able to access transparency information.¶¶