European Union: European Commission opened consultation on guidelines on implementation of declaration functionality for media service providers under European Media Freedom Act

On 23 June 2025, the European Commission opened a consultation on guidelines on the implementation of the declaration functionality for media service providers pursuant to Article 18(1) of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) until 23 July 2025. The guidelines are intended to help providers implement safeguards aligned with EMFA, particularly regarding their interaction with very large online platforms (VLOPs) regulated under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The guidelines outline how media providers can declare information, such as their legal identity, ownership structure, any state advertising funding, and editorial independence. They also cover declarations about regulatory oversight for editorial responsibility, restrictions on the use of AI without human oversight, and contact details for both the provider and relevant national authorities. From August 2025, VLOPs will be required to inform media providers before removing their content and must explain the reasons for removal. Providers will then have 24 hours to respond.