European Union: European Commission adopted guidelines on declaration functionality for media service providers under European Media Freedom Act

On 6 February 2026, the European Commission adopted guidelines regarding the declaration functionality for media service providers under Article 18 of the European Media Freedom Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1083). The guidelines aim to clarify the obligations of providers of Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) to provide a functionality allowing media service providers to declare their status. This mechanism is intended to protect editorial integrity and minimise the impact of content moderation decisions on professional journalistic content. Under Article 18(1), VLOPs must allow media service providers to declare their legal name, contact details, and evidence of editorial independence. The declaration must allow such providers to declare that they are either subject to national regulatory oversight or adhere to recognised self-regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, media service providers must be able to declare that they do not provide content generated by artificial intelligence without human review or editorial control. The guidelines specify that VLOPs should process these declarations individually and continuously, basing decisions solely on the elements declared rather than compatibility with platform terms. If a declaration is rejected or invalidated, the VLOP must provide reasons and inform the provider of available remedies.