Determined to make the next ten years the “digital decade of Europe” (see EUROPE 12561/7), the European Commission intends, however, to ensure that the progress envisaged will not further undermine respect for democracy and fundamental rights in the Union.
The institution therefore unveiled, on Thursday 3 December, what it presents as a safeguard in this respect, namely its “European Action Plan for Democracy” (see EUROPE 12429/4).
This should make it possible to respond to problems such as the “rise of extremism”, especially online, the recurrent interference in democratic processes, the threats hanging over the media and journalists, the “lack of transparency and responsibility” of the digital giants and the absence of rules from which some take advantage, the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, summed up to the press.
Regulating the transparency of political advertising
One of the first steps in this roadmap will be the introduction of legislation in 2021 to prevent voter manipulation through targeted political advertising.
The proposal, which will target sponsors of paid content and distribution channels, including online platforms, should allow for “specific rules to be put in place sufficiently in advance of the May 2024 European Parliament elections”, says the Commission.
Guidelines for Member States and national political parties will complement this initiative.
In addition, the Commission is expected to initiate a revision of the Regulation on the statute and financing of European political parties (1141/2014) next year as well. Also with a view to ensuring the “integrity of electoral processes”, it is committed to developing a “compendium of electronic voting practices”.
Countering disinformation without censorship
The action plan then goes on to address at greater length the issue of online disinformation, a phenomenon exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A number of policy options are of course being considered in relation to the EU Code of Good Practice on Disinformation, the effectiveness of which still leaves much to be desired (see EUROPE 12557/26).
Thematic guidelines for strengthening the Code are announced for spring 2021. A permanent framework for monitoring the code should also be established. “We will move from self-regulation to co-regulation”, Jourová promised.
“We will not regulate the removal of disputed content. We don’t want to create a Ministry of Truth. Freedom of expression is essential and I will not support any legislation that would compromise it”, the vice president said.
Finally, the Commission advocates the strengthening of its toolbox to counter foreign interference operations and promises to develop a common methodology to ensure the systematic collection of evidence of such interference.
Protecting journalists from SLAPPs
The year 2021 should also be marked by a number of initiatives aimed at countering the increase in online and physical threats and attacks against journalists.
The Commission promises first of all the publication of recommendations on the safety of journalists. These will take into account “the new online threats faced in particular by women” working in this sector.
A substantial part of its action plan is also devoted to “a particular form of harassment that is increasingly being used”: SLAPPs (strategic lawsuit against public participation).
The Commission defines them as “baseless or exaggerated legal proceedings initiated by powerful state bodies, corporations or individuals” with the aim of intimidating weaker parties who have expressed criticism of them.
“Daphne Caruana Galizia had 47 such cases pending against her in Malta and abroad at the time of her murder”, insisted Věra Jourová at a press conference.
At the beginning of 2021, an expert group dedicated to SLAPPs will therefore be set up, the European institution promises. An initiative to protect journalists from this practice, which it is not clear whether it will be legislative or not, will be presented at the end of the same year.
Finally, as regards the media, the Commission did not confine itself to these announcements alone: a second specific action plan (see other news) was also adopted by the College of Commissioners on Thursday.
See the Action Plan for Democracy: https://bit.ly/3lJjvLi (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)