IRIS newsletter 2026-9
Publisher:
European Audiovisual Observatory
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Maja Cappello, Editor • Amélie Lacourt, Justine Radel, Sophie Valais, Diego de la Vega, Deputy Editors (European Audiovisual Observatory)
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Linda Byrne • Aurélie Courtinat • Paul Green • Barbara Grokenberger • Catherine Koleda • Udo Lücke • Marco Polo Sarl • Erwin Rohwer • Sonja Schmidt • Nathalie Sturlèse • Ulrike Welsch • David Windsor
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ISSN 2078-6158
© 2026 European Audiovisual Observatory, Strasbourg (France)
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Editorial
The fight against disinformation and harmful content is a recurring theme in our newsletter, and it could not be otherwise, as the so-called “information disorder” is what doctors call a long-term condition. With no cure available that would make the underlying cause disappear, the only possible solution is to manage the symptoms under medical supervision and long-term monitoring of the patient’s condition. In the case of the “digital disease”, different remedies have been given to the patient without any of them turning into a magic pill. Accordingly, this issue of the newsletter provides an update of measures that aim at alleviating the affliction, without any of them being standalone fixes. Ukraine’s media regulator, for example, has introduced new criteria for identifying propaganda related to Russian aggression, interpreting the legal prohibition on disseminating such information as set out in the Law on the Media. In the EU, signatories of the Code of Conduct on Disinformation have published their second batch of reports detailing the actions they are taking to reduce the spread of disinformation online. Poland has recently signed one of the legislative acts implementing the Digital Services Act, an important step after it was referred to the Court of Justice for missing the EU implementation deadline. The new act designates the authorities responsible for enforcing the new provisions with regard to internet platforms and introduces a system of complaints and penalties for violations.
Of course, children and young people are very important patients who require special care. The Irish regulator’s recent report on Online Safety & Children's Digital Lives revealed that 25% of 9-11-year-olds have a social media account, with 33% of children and young people reporting a negative online experience in the past year. In Spain, the recent approval of a new Co-Regulatory Agreement on the Classification of Audiovisual Programmes and Content represents an important step forward for the Spanish audiovisual sector as a whole in terms of protecting minors.
Several other measures aimed at protecting vital aspects of the media sector have recently been adopted, ranging from anti-SLAPP legislation to protect journalists and encourage public participation in Bulgaria, to guidance on data protection in video games.
Enjoy the read!
Maja Cappello, Editor
European Audiovisual Observatory
International
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
CoE: European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights: Atresmedia Corporacion de Medios de Comunicacion S.A. v. Spain
On 8 October 2026, the European Court of Human Rights (the Court) held that a regulatory restriction on the format of an election debate broadcast by a Spanish private television channel did not violate the right to freedom of expression (Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights). The case provided an opportunity for the Court to examine potential tensions between private media outlets’ editorial freedom and states’ positive obligations to safeguard pluralism in the audiovisual media sector during election periods. In the run-up to the national parliamentary elections...
EUROPEAN UNION
EU: Court of Justice of the European Union
CJEU: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) v. Commissioner for Environmental Information
On 10 September 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) published its judgment in a case between Ireland's national public broadcaster, Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), and the Commissioner for Environmental Information concerning a request for access to environmental information made by Right to Know CLG (RTK) to RTÉ. On 19 July 2021, RTK, a non-profit organisation governed by Irish law, made a request for information to RTÉ under the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 (AIE Regulations),...
EU: European Commission
VLOPs and VLOSEs signatories to the Code of Conduct on Disinformation publish their second batch of reports
On 24 September 2026, the European Commission reported that signatories of the voluntary Code of Conduct on Disinformation had published their second batch of reports since the code’s recognition as a code of conduct under Article 45 of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Code of Conduct on Disinformation, a pioneering framework established in 2018 to address the spread of disinformation, was significantly strengthened in 2022. It was following this update that the European Commission and the European Board for Media Services integrated the 2022 version into the framework of the DSA....
EU: European Parliament
A new briefing investigating AI in the CCS and assessing whether existing EU policies address AI challenges
The research department of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) published a briefing on 23 September 2026 on artificial intelligence (AI) in the cultural and creative sectors (CCS). The briefing examines the impact of AI on the CCS and the European Union’s (EU) policies in this area. It identifies gaps between the challenges posed by AI and the existing EU legislative framework, and makes recommendations to address them. The AI Act establishes a horizontal, risk-based framework that applies across industries. It is complemented by the Directive on...
NATIONAL
Armenia
[AM] Armenia adopts criteria on discriminatory and hate-inciting content in audiovisual programmes
On 11 September 2026, the Commission on Television and Radio of the Republic of Armenia (CTR) adopted Decision no. 110-Ն, establishing criteria for applying the prohibition on certain discriminatory and hate-inciting content in audiovisual programmes. The decision followed amendments to the Law on Audiovisual Media that entered into force on 28 April 2026. Under the revised Article 9(1)(3), audiovisual programmes may not disseminate information that incites national, racial, gender-based or religious hatred, or that sows, encourages or justifies discrimination based on age, disability or other...
Belgium
Spain and Belgium publish joint European guidance on data protection in video games
The "Recommendations and best practices for personal data protection in video games" are the first joint European guidelines dedicated exclusively to addressing data protection, user privacy, and systemic risks within the video games ecosystem under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). They have been published collaboratively between the Spanish Data Protection Agency (Agencia Española de Protección de Datos – AEPD) and the Belgian Data Protection Authority (Autorité de protection des données (APD) / Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit...
[BE] CSA study on the representation of women and men in radio programmes
Since 2011, the Higher Audiovisual Council (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel – CSA) of the French Community of Belgium has published several studies, known as "barometers", on the representation of people in the audiovisual media falling within its remit. The criteria analysed generally relate to gender, ethnic background, age, socio-professional category and disability. Since 2016, the CSA has had a statutory duty to periodically analyse the balanced representation of women and men in audiovisual media. In this regard, an initial equality barometer, published in...
Bulgaria
[BG] Amendments to the Consumer Protection Act introduce website blocking and tackle greenwashing
On 24 September 2026, the Act amending and supplementing the Consumer Protection Act (Закон за изменение и допълнение на Закона за защита на потребителите – the Act) was promulgated in State Gazette No. 87. The Act transposes Directive (EU) 2023/2673 on financial services contracts concluded at a distance and Directive (EU) 2024/825 on empowering consumers for the green transition, and introduces notable new powers for the relevant authorities. Most provisions entered into force on the date of promulgation. The rules on greenwashing, durability and repair apply from 27 September...
[BG] New anti-SLAPP legislation protects journalists and public participation
On 6 October 2026, the Act amending and supplementing the Civil Procedure Code (Закон за изменение и допълнение на Гражданския процесуален кодекс – hereafter "the Act" ) was promulgated in the State Gazette (Държавен вестник). The National Assembly (Народно събрание) adopted the Act on 30 September 2026. The Act is Bulgaria's new anti-SLAPP legislation; it transposes Directive (EU) 2024/1069 on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings ("strategic lawsuits against public participation"...
Germany
[DE] Berlin-Brandenburg court rules that all media outlets are entitled to non-discriminatory access to public sector advertising space
On 21 September 2026 (case no. OVG 1 S 63.26), the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg (Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin-Brandenburg – OVG) ruled in summary proceedings that the Berlin Public Transport Authority (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe – BVG) must continue the advertising campaign for a controversial media portal because previously allocated, unobjectionable advertising space could not be withdrawn solely on the grounds of potential protests or political controversy. Security risks should be managed through police measures rather than by unilaterally terminating contracts...
[DE] Broadcasting Commission agrees on second part of Digital Media State Treaty
On 16 September 2026, the Broadcasting Commission (Rundfunkkommission), which is responsible for media legislation in the German federal states, agreed on the final draft of the second part of the so-called Digital Media State Treaty (Digitale Medien-Staatsvertrag – DMStV II-E), which it submitted for public consultation on 28 September. The package addresses a wide range of issues and sets out regulations with seven key objectives: improving media refinancing, enhancing media visibility and protecting the media from algorithmic displacement, enabling an informed society even in...
[DE] Publication of 2026 ARD/ZDF Media Study on media usage in Germany
On 22 September 2026, the two German public service broadcasters, ARD and ZDF, published their 2026 Media Study. Their findings show that the transition from linear to non-linear media consumption is continuing. With regard to the platform market, YouTube remained the most important video streaming service. The study also examines people's use and awareness of AI, concluding that the use of AI tools is growing rapidly and has become part of everyday life for Germans. The ARD/ZDF Media Study has been commissioned for many years by the ARD/ZDF Research Commission to compile...
Spain
[ES] Spain's new approach to audiovisual content classification
Spain’s new Co-Regulatory Agreement on the Classification of Audiovisual Programmes and Content (Acuerdo de corregulación para la calificación de programas y contenidos audiovisuales - code of conduct) was approved in July 2026. The code of conduct implements Article 98(2) of Spain’s General Audiovisual Communication Law (Ley 13/2022 General de Comunicación Audiovisual - LGCA) and creates a common framework for the classification of audiovisual content. Although its most obvious objective is the protection of minors, it also reflects a broader change in...
France
[FR] Arcom fines CNews EUR 200 000 for inciting hatred and failing to control its broadcasts
The French audiovisual regulator (Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique – Arcom) was asked to intervene in sanction proceedings against the Société d’exploitation d’un service d’information (SESI), the publisher of CNews, following footage broadcast during the programme "100 % Politique" on 2 June and 1 September 2025. The first clip concerned violence that occurred following Paris Saint-Germain’s victory in the Champions League. Comments broadcast on air, in response...
[FR] Dismissal of appeal seeking to order Arcom to investigate whether CNews and Europe 1 are meeting pluralism obligations
An organisation campaigning for diversity of opinion in public debate, along with other applicants, asked the interim relief judge at the Council of State (Conseil d'État) to suspend the implicit refusal of the French audiovisual regulator (Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique – Arcom) and its independent rapporteur to act on their requests concerning the CNews television channel and Europe 1 radio station. In particular, they urged Arcom to abandon its policy of not taking up cases on its own initiative, to strip...
Georgia
[GE] National regulator comes close to suspending broadcaster
The Communications Commission (ComCom), the national regulatory authority (NRA) of Georgia, announced, on 1 October 2026, that it had issued a monetary fine of GEL 10 000 to television broadcaster Formula. Based on a three-day monitoring of programme, ComCom identified cases in which presenters and correspondents expressed personal opinions during news programmes, in breach of the impartiality requirements established by law. This included assessments of current political and public affairs based on personal attitudes, which is restricted under the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting. As Formula...
Ireland
[IE] Online Safety and Children's Digital Lives: Insights from Irish Children and Parents
On 10 September 2026, Ireland’s independent media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, published "Online Safety & Children's Digital Lives", a report presenting the findings of an Irish study that adopted the theoretical framework and methodology of the EU Kids Online project. The study examines children’s online experiences across several areas, including screen time, digital literacy, exposure to online harms, parental and state regulation, and overall wellbeing. The findings will contribute to the broader international research programme, Global Kids Online,...
Iceland
[IS] Media Commission fines podcast presenter for failure to register
On 26 August 2026, Iceland's Media Commission (Fjölmiðlanefnd) decided that the podcast Ein Pæling was a media outlet subject to registration under the Media Act No. 38/2011. It found that the presenter, Þórarinn Hjartarson, had breached Article 14(1) by failing to register the podcast and imposed an administrative fine of ISK 500 000. The decision was published on 28 August. The case began after the presenter asked the Commission in November 2025 how to obtain a radio broadcasting licence. The Commission replied that the podcast should be registered. The presenter...
Italy
[IT] AGCOM amends the Economic Information System regulation to exclude online intermediation and search engine service providers established in other EU member states
On 10 September 2026, the Italian Communications Authority (Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni – AGCOM) adopted a new resolution on the so-called Economic Information System (Informativa Economica di Sistema – IES). The IES is an annual declaration that communications operators are required to submit to AGCOM, aimed at collecting updated registry data and economic data relating to the last year of activity, both of which are necessary for the exercise of AGCOM’s institutional functions in the various sectors falling within its competence. In 2021, AGCOM...
Lithuania
[LT] Regulator finds EUR 650 889 overpayment for public broadcaster's transmission services
On 17 September 2026, the Council of Lithuania's Communications Regulatory Authority (Ryšių reguliavimo tarnyba – RRT) found that the Lithuanian Radio and Television Centre (Telecentras) had received EUR 650 889 more than the cost-based amount due for services supplied in 2025 to the public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija – LRT). Resolution No. TN-380 states that the overpayment, excluding VAT, is returnable to LRT. RRT announced the finding on 21 September. The services cover transmission of LRT television...
[LT] Regulator orders blocking of twelve websites carrying Sputnik radio
On 16 September 2026, the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (Lietuvos radijo ir televizijos komisija – LRTK) adopted Decision No. KS-85 requiring providers of public electronic communications networks or services to block access to twelve websites carrying the Russian radio broadcast Sputnik. Monitoring conducted between 21 and 26 August had identified online listening routes including radiosputnik.ru, radiopotok.ru and radio-online.by. The LRTK reasoned that, although Internet service providers did not themselves broadcast the programme, they facilitated its transmission and were...
Latvia
[LV] Saeima adopts new language framework for public media content
On 1 October 2026, the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, adopted amendments to the Law on Public Electronic Mass Media and Their Management (Sabiedrisko elektronisko plašsaziņas līdzekļu un to pārvaldības likums) at third reading. The amendments replace the current rule requiring public electronic media to produce programmes, programme segments and other services in minority languages with a framework that distinguishes between minority languages described as self-sufficient and those described as not self-sufficient. The adopted text provides for the amendments to enter into force on 1 January...
Poland
[PL] Implementing the Digital Services Act in Poland
On 25 September 2026, the President of the Republic of Poland signed one of the legislative acts implementing the Digital Services Act (DSA), namely the Act of 4 September 2026 (hereafter, "the Act") amending the Act on the Provision of Electronic Services and Certain Other Acts. This Act is intended to implement the DSA, which has been applicable in EU member states since 17 February 2024. In May 2025, Poland, along with Cyprus, Spain, Portugal and Czechia, was sued before the Court of Justice of the European Union for not implementing the legal regime. In January this...
Romania
[RO] The Romanian National Audiovisual Council sets out new rules and obligations applicable to online content creators and influencers
Decision No. 116 of 24 February 2026 (heraefter, "the Decision"), issued by the Romanian National Audiovisual Council, came into force on 27 September. It sets forth the updated legal procedure for the licensing, authorisation, and notification of audiovisual media services. Apart from modifying the existing legal procedures, the Romanian National Audiovisual Council, in the preamble to the Decision, also acknowledges that users of video-sharing platform services can provide audiovisual content that is available to the general public and increasingly accessed by it. For this reason,...
Sweden
[SE] New accessibility decisions extend TV4 and Viaplay obligations to 2030
On 19 August 2026, the Swedish Agency for the Media (Mediemyndigheten) adopted separate decisions setting accessibility requirements for TV4 AB and Viaplay Group Sweden AB. They took effect on 1 September 2026 and run until 31 August 2030, in four annual periods. Under Chapter 5, Section 12 of the Radio and Television Act (Radio- och tv-lag 2010:696), the agency determines the extent to which commercial media services must make programmes accessible to persons with disabilities. The new decisions replace requirements that applied over three periods, from September 2023 to August 2026. The more...
Ukraine
[UA] : Regulator provides criteria to identify propaganda of russian aggression
On 3 September 2026, the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting, the Ukraine’s national regulatory authority (NRA), approved a new act, entitled “Criteria for Classifying Information as Containing Propaganda of the Russian Totalitarian Regime and the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation – as a Terrorist State – Against Ukraine, as well as Symbols of the Military Invasion by the Russian Totalitarian Regime, for Audiovisual Media Entities.” It is the result of the workof 12 experts, including those from the NRA itself, who have been working on...
