In a report, the non-governmental organization „Reporters Without Borders“ calls for a „European response to threats to public service media on the Old Continent”, proposing in particular that digital platforms be taxed to fund media.
„The election of Donald Trump as president and the announced closure of the American Broadcasting Corporation have highlighted the offensive that a number of political forces are waging against public service media across Europe“, says „Reporters Without Borders“ Director General Thibaut Brutin in the foreword to the report. „Taking control of them, stopping their funding and even disbanding them are becoming "frequent events," he warns.
“Going through numerous crises, these media could easily become a mouthpiece for the government, as in Italy, or a Kremlin propaganda office, as in Hungary - two countries led respectively by far-right prime ministers Giorgia Meloni and Viktor Orbán,“ warned Bruten.
More broadly, “Reporters Without Borders“ condemns the implementation of “freedom-destroying“ reforms under “false pretexts“ in several EU member states. The organization points in particular to the reorganization of the Slovak public radio and television in 2024, justified by the government with a “lack of objectivity“. According to the NGO, this reform aims to turn the public media into a state media.
In this context, “Reporters Without Borders“ welcomes the entry into force on 8 August of an article in the European media freedom law that imposes obligations on member states regarding the editorial independence and funding of public service broadcasters. In anticipation of the implementation of these obligations, Reporters Without Borders is also making a dozen recommendations.
In addition to "strong guarantees of independence in the appointment" of public service broadcasters, the NGO recommends "exploring a European-level financing system based on a tax imposed by member states on digital platforms. This tax could be added to a universal and progressive tax," the organization says.
Another option is the creation of a "European External Audiovisual Service" to combat foreign interference and propaganda.
"A coalition of member states, extended to the UK or the EU itself, could allow the survival of the editorial offices of American international radio stations „Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty“, which Trump seeks to dissolve, „in synergy“ with other European players such as „France Media Monde“ and „Deutsche Welle“, the international branches of the French and German public broadcasters, the non-governmental organization added.
The leaders of four South American countries and Spain, gathered at a summit in Chile, warned that democracy was under attack and called for a fight against disinformation and the rise of extremism, reported Agence France-Presse.
The summit, called „Democracy Forever“, organized in Santiago, took place against the backdrop of the advance of far-right parties and governments, as well as authoritarian rule observed in parts of Europe and Latin America. And this is happening while US President Donald Trump is trying to impose tariffs on most countries in the world and is pursuing an aggressive foreign policy.
“At a time when democracy is under attack from different places, there is an important, coherent group of leaders from different countries who have a complementary vision in defending democracy“, said Chilean President Gabriel Boric.
The summit was attended by Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi.
In front of the delegates, Boric criticized disinformation, extremism, the rise of hatred, corruption, the concentration of power and inequalities that undermine public action and the rule of law.
The summit aimed to discuss means to strengthen democracies and the multilateral approach, including Specific proposals in this direction will be presented during the UN General Assembly in September in New York.
“Our societies are facing a real threat coming from a coalition of interests, between oligarchs and the far right, from an international, let's call it, of hatred and lies, which are advancing dangerously“, warned Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez.
According to Lula da Silva, the five participants in the meeting agreed that it is necessary to regulate digital platforms and fight disinformation. "The key to a free, public and multilateral debate is data transparency and global digital governance," said Lula da Silva.
The Santiago summit may not go down well with President Trump, said Michael Schiffer of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank.
At the end of the summit, the five leaders had lunch with prominent figures, including Nobel laureate in economics Joseph Stiglitz and former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.