IRIS newsletter 2025-7
Publisher:
European Audiovisual Observatory
76, allée de la Robertsau
F-67000 STRASBOURG
Tel. : +33 (0) 3 90 21 60 00
E-mail: obs@obs.coe.int
www.obs.coe.int
Comments and Suggestions to: iris@obs.coe.int
Executive Director: Susanne Nikoltchev
Maja Cappello, Editor • Sophie Valais, Amélie Lacourt, Olivier Hermanns, Justine Radel, Deputy Editors (European Audiovisual Observatory)
Documentation/Press Contact: Alison Hindhaugh
Tel.: +33 (0)3 90 21 60 10
E-mail: alison.hindhaugh@coe.int
Proofreading of machine translations:
Aurélie Courtinat • Paul Green • Marco Polo Sarl • Nathalie Sturlèse • Erwin Rohwer • Sonja Schmidt • Ulrike Welsch
Proofreading of original texts:
Olivier Hermanns and Amélie Lacourt • Linda Byrne • David Windsor • Aurélie Courtinat • Barbara Grokenberger
Web Design:
Coordination: Cyril Chaboisseau, European Audiovisual Observatory
ISSN 2078-6158
© 2025 European Audiovisual Observatory, Strasbourg (France)
To promote inclusive language, we follow the guidelines of the Council of Europe.
Editorial
If you are a parent of young children and have watched series like Adolescence or Defending Jacob, you may have felt uneasy and fearful for your children's mental health. The harms caused by social media are increasing, and nobody has yet found the magic formula to counteract them.
There are different recent developments that deserve mentioning here. For starters, the Commission has presented guidelines on the protection of minors, as well as a prototype of an age-verification app under the Digital Services Act (DSA). These aim to ensure that children and young people can continue to enjoy the opportunities the online world offers, while minimising the risks they face online, including exposure to harmful content and behaviours.
Media literacy is also a useful tool to help children defend themselves from online evil. Over in Cyprus, the Radio Television Authority has been actively promoting media literacy by holding seminars for students and teachers. Topics such as ethical and responsible online behaviour and the ability to critically evaluate information, especially in relation to fake news, resonated strongly with participants. A key factor in the project’s success was its wide accessibility and pedagogical flexibility, which allowed educators to select topics from a curated list based on the specific needs and interests of their students.
Meanwhile, the French courts have suspended an order requiring age verification for users accessing 17 different pornographic websites. This follows the Conseil d'État's decision to refer questions to the CJEU for a preliminary ruling on whether certain French legal provisions aimed at protecting minors online are compatible with the objectives of the E-Commerce Directive.
Otherwise, if you've ever wanted to know more about the concrete measures taken by European countries to ensure that our children and young people benefit from safe screens, then take a look at our AVMSDigest - Safe screens: protecting minors online.
Enjoy the read (and the summer)!
Maja Cappello, Editor
European Audiovisual Observatory
International
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
CoE: European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights: New judgment again finds a violation of Article 10 for unjustified interference with a journalist’s work
For the second time in the space of a couple of months, the European Court of Human Rights (Fifth Section) has found a violation of a journalist’s right to freedom of expression in Armenia. In its judgment in Gevorgyan v. Armenia of 22 May 2025, the Court found a violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights as a result of the arrest of a journalist while performing her professional work and the temporary confiscation and inspection of her camera while in custody, without justification. In its judgment in Hayk Grigoryan v. Armenia (3 April 2025, IRIS 2025-6:1/16), the...
CoE: European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights: Public interest in non-removal of online videos showing verbal aggression of a homophobic nature
The European Court of Human Rights’ judgment in the case of Străisteanu v. the Republic of Moldova adds to the growing body of case-law that underlines the importance of freedom of expression in the context of debate on matters of public interest. The case concerned the online posting and non-removal of videos showing verbal aggression of a homophobic nature. The Fifth Section of the Court delivered its judgment on 5 June 2025. On several occasions over the course of a few days in May 2017, T.P., a lawyer and university Professor, verbally abused the applicant, also a lawyer, whose clients...
EUROPEAN UNION
EU: European Commission
European Commission guidelines on the protection of minors
On 14 July 2025, the European Commission published the final version of its guidelines on the protection of minors, following the publication of a draft in May 2025 (IRIS 2025-6:1/13). The guidelines aim to safeguard minors and ensure their privacy, safety, security and well-being on digital platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA). They address the risks that children face online, including grooming, exposure to harmful content, problematic and addictive behaviours, cyberbullying, and harmful commercial practices. The development of the guidelines involved consultation with youth, civil...
EU: European Parliament
European Parliament publishes study on generative AI and copyright
On 9 July 2025, the European Parliament published a study, requested by the JURI Committee, examining how generative AI challenges core principles of EU copyright law. The study highlights the legal mismatch between AI training practices and current text and data mining exceptions, and the uncertain status of AI-generated content. These developments pose structural risks for the future of creativity in Europe, where a rich and diverse cultural heritage depends on the continued protection and fair remuneration of authors. The report calls for clear rules on input and output distinctions, harmonised...
NATIONAL
Belgium
[BE] Report on the impartiality of Flemish public broadcasting reports
The Flemish Media Regulator (VRM) recently published a report on the impartiality of news reporting by VRT, the public broadcaster of the Flemish Community of Belgium. The report was drawn up at the VRM’s request by the University of Antwerp’s Media, Middenveld en Politiek (Media, Civil Society and Politics – M²P) unit. The report is based on monitoring of television news, current affairs and election programmes broadcast by VRT during 2024 and compares the results with those of the private broadcaster VTM. The monitoring exercise covered the news programmes available...
Cyprus
[CY] Media Literacy Seminars conducted by the Cyprus Radio Television Authority
Pursuant to article 30C of the Radio and Television Broadcasters Law 7(I)/1998 (as amended) and to article 18D of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation Law, Chapter 300A (as amended), Media literacy constitutes a statutory mandate for the Cyprus Radio Television Authority (CRTA). In response to this mandate, Media Literacy Seminars project stands out as the most prominent and sustained media literacy intervention of CRTA in the field; it has been implemented in cooperation with the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute for more than 10 years. Its success is attributed to its wide accessibility, as it...
Germany
[DE] Cologne Regional Court declares Netflix price increases unlawful
On 15 May 2025, the Landgericht Köln (Cologne Regional Court – LG Köln) ruled in the second instance (case 6 S 114/23) that price increases for monthly usage fees may not be made unilaterally by a provider, but require the customer’s express consent. In the case at hand, a user had sued the streaming service provider Netflix for imposing three subscription price increases and demanded a refund of the overpayments. Price increases in December 2017, June 2019 and May 2021 meant that the price of the premium subscription originally purchased for EUR 11.99 per month had risen...
[DE] KIM Study 2024 sheds light on children's Internet use
On 3 June 2025, the Medienpädagogische Forschungsverbund Südwest (mpfs), a research body acting on behalf of the Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (Baden-Württemberg state media authority), the Medienanstalt Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate state media authority) and Südwestrundfunk (SWR), published its 15th study on childhood, Internet and media (KIM Study 2024). In a parent-child survey conducted as part of the study, 1,225 children aged between 6 and 13 were asked about their own and their family’s media usage, leisure activities and interests....
[DE] Public value determination procedure for content discoverability on user interfaces completed
At the beginning of June 2025, the German state media authorities completed a procedure for the second time to determine which media content should be treated as “public value” offerings on media platforms’ user interfaces, i.e. which content must be easy to find. In addition to 73 nationwide video, audio and telemedia offerings, 247 local, regional and state-wide offerings were awarded public value status. With a total of 320 offerings, this is 49 more than in the first determination procedure, which, according to the media authorities, demonstrates the high relevance of the...
Denmark
[DK] New Danish production rebate
Production discount schemes are an increasingly competitive parameter in film and series production. Therefore, Denmark has decided to strengthen the country’s competitiveness in a global industry where films and series have become a powerful tool to tell stories, shape national identities and create economic growth. According to the political agreement of 10 June the new Danish production rebate scheme will come into force in 2026. The scheme decided upon is organised as a reimbursement scheme, where 25% of eligible costs for production in Denmark can be reimbursed to the applicant. A...
France
[FR] Question on determination of categories of persons subject to age verification system obligation rejected
Webgroup Czech Republic AS and NKL Associates SRO raised a priority question of constitutionality in support of their requests for the annulment of decision no. 2024-20 of 9 October 2024 of the Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique (the French audiovisual regulator – ARCOM). The ARCOM decision concerns the reference framework for determining the minimum technical requirements applicable to age verification systems designed to prevent minors from accessing pornographic content, and was issued in accordance with Article 10(I) of the Law of...
[FR] Rejection of application for annulment of decree on removal of terrorist content online
A number of associations are seeking the annulment, on grounds of ultra vires, of decree no. 2023-432 of 3 June 2023 implementing Articles 6-1-1 and 6-1-5 of Law no. 2004-575 of 21 June 2004 on confidence in the digital economy (as amended by the Law of 16 August 2022), and Regulation (EU) 2021/784 of 29 April 2021 on addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online. This decree designates the administrative authority with jurisdiction to issue injunctions for the removal of terrorist content, specifies the procedures for exchanging information between the authorities concerned and lays...
[FR] Suspension of order requiring age verification of users of 17 pornographic websites
The operator of the xHamster website asked the interim relief judge to suspend the order of 26 February 2025 identifying, pursuant to Article 10-2 of the Law of 21 June 2004, 17 online video-sharing websites operated by providers established in another EU member state and requiring them to implement an effective age verification system for users of their sites that broadcast pornographic content, subject to financial penalties and blocking or delisting measures ordered by the Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique (the French audiovisual regulator...
United Kingdom
[GB] Implementation of age verification requirements under the Online Safety Act 2023
The UK’s communications and online safety regulator, Ofcom, announced the implementation of new requirements obligating all online platforms that host pornographic content to deploy ‘highly effective’ age assurance measures by 25 July 2025. This regulatory shift stems from the Online Safety Act 2023 and aims to prevent minors from accessing harmful content, including pornography, while safeguarding adult users’ rights to access legal material. Scope of application, implementation and compliance requirements The new age verification regime will apply broadly across...
[GB] Ofcom consultation on a review of changes to the Broadcasting Code
Following the High Court judicial review decision, R (GB News Ltd) v. Ofcom [2025] EWHC 460 (Admin), brought by GB News and challenging Ofcom’s application of section 5 of the Broadcasting Code relating to due impartiality, the regulator launched a consultation which closed on 23 June 2025 entitled “Politicians presenting news: consultation on proposed amendment to Rule 5.3 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code” (the Consultation). The High Court decision determined that GB News was allowed to use Jacob Rees-Mogg (who was an MP at the time) to act as a newsreader in a...
Netherlands
[NL] Court grants preliminary relief in a dispute between the public broadcaster and the Dutch Media Authority
On 16 June 2025, the District Court of Central Netherlands issued a preliminary relief ruling, holding that the Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS does not have to grant the Dutch Media Authority (Commissariaat voor de Media) access to two confidential research reports concerning workplace safety. The request for preliminary relief was brought by AVROTROS following the Media Authority’s request to inspect the reports regarding social safety and governance within the organisation drawn up by external parties in 2023. These reports formed the basis for AVROTROS’s action plan, which...
[NL] Dutch Media Authority adopts new policy rule on classification of on-demand commercial media services
On 28 May 2025, the Dutch Media Authority published a new policy rule on the classification of on-demand commercial media services (2025 Policy Rule). It replaces the previous policy rule adopted in 2022, which covered a narrower group of video uploaders subject to the active supervision of the Media Authority. The final version of the 2025 Policy Rule reflects the outcomes of public consultation that followed the publication of the draft in March 2025 (IRIS 2025-4:1/15). The 2025 Policy Rule aims to put into effect the provisions of the Dutch Media Act of 2008. This act was amended in 2020...
Sweden
[SE] New rules on the purchase of sexual acts making acts performed remotely illegal
On 1 July 2025, amendments to Chapter 6, Sections 11 and 12 of the Swedish Penal Code entered into force. These legislative changes expand the scope of criminal liability for the offences of purchase of sexual services and procuring to also encompass acts performed remotely, i.e., without physical contact, for example via webcam or other digital means. Although the revised statutory provisions do not explicitly refer to acts performed remotely, the legislative intent is that such conduct, through modifications to other constituent elements of the offences, shall be included. The reasons behind...
Slovakia
[SK] Amendments to Statute on Media Services enter into force
Amendments to the 2022 Statute of Slovakia “On Media Services and on Adoption of Amendments to Certain Statutes” (the Statute on Media Services, see IRIS 2023-2:1/10) were adopted by the National Council (Parliament) of the Slovak Republic on 27 June 2024, and partially entered into force on 28 June 2025. Their purpose is to align national legislation with the Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065). The amendments expand the mandate of the Council for Media Services (RpMS), the current national regulation authority (NRA) in Slovakia, beyond audiovisual media to include...
United States of America
[US] Lawsuit filed by Disney & Universal against Midjourney
Disney and Universal filed a lawsuit against Midjourney for direct and secondary copyright infringement before the United States District Court for the Central District of California on 11 June 2025 (under the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.). It is the first case brought by major Hollywood studios against a generative AI company. In the complaint sent to the Court, the plaintiffs argue that Midjourney directly reproduces, publicly displays, and distributes reproductions and derivative works of Disney and Universal content. For instance, if a Midjourney user enters...
