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After several meetings held in September and October, the Governments of the Bundesländer (Heads of the State and Senate Chancelleries and Minister-Presidents) agreed on the principles of a new regulatory framework for the media, mainly broadcasting, at their conference in Saarbrücken at the end of October. Whereas a new common standard for the protection of minors is to be laid down for all types of media and enforced by each individual Land (see IRIS 2001-9: 14), the reform of media supervision in general is also under discussion. To this end, the Land Minister-Presidents approved the idea of...

The European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA) held its 14th meeting on 27-28 September in Malta, at the invitation of the Broadcasting Authority of Malta. Over 90 representatives from 41 regulatory authorities responsible for broadcasting throughout Europe met to exchange information and experience on European and national regulatory issues in the field of radio and television. Among the various topics that were discussed during the meeting, two are particularly worth highlighting. The main topic on the agenda was the regulation of television advertising in light of the future review...

In talks held at the end of August between representatives of the Federation and the Länder, basic principles for a restructuring of German media regulations were discussed. As the digitisation of content and transmission networks in the various forms of media continues, the need to re-assign responsibilities at national and regional levels is being discussed. The main areas of concern are the protection of minors, the legal framework for and monitoring of new media services, competition and media concentration regulations, and data protection. According to the model which has been proposed and...

The Swiss Bundesrat (Council of Ministers) has resolved, in co-operation with the cantons, to step up the fight against punishable offences committed with the aid of information and communications systems. It is particularly concerned about child pornography on the Internet. In two statements on parliamentary motions, the Bundesrat said it wished to combat this new phenomenon through closer coordination between the Federation and the cantons. In accordance with proposals by a working group and in co-operation with the cantons, it intends to set up an Internet monitoring authority with responsibility...

The Independent Television Commission (ITC), the British regulator of broadcasters other than the BBC, has required a broadcast apology from Channel 4 over its broadcast of a highly controversial satirical programme on paedophilia and on its treatment in the media. The programme, in the series "Brass Eye", was broadcast on 26 July and repeated on 27 July, attracting around 1,000 complaints to the ITC. The Culture Secretary (the minister responsible for broadcasting) had also intervened by expressing concern about the inability of the ITC to prevent the broadcasting of the repeat. In its adjudication,...