Activities of Konstantinos ARVANITIS related to 2020/2009(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on strengthening media freedom: the protection of journalists in Europe, hate speech, disinformation and the role of platforms
Amendments (25)
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the rights to freedom of expression and information are fundamental rights and indispensable conditions for citizens active participation in a democratic society, for the realisation of the principles of transparency and accountability and for the fulfilment of other human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas media freedom, pluralism and independence are crucial components of the right of freedom of expression and are essential to the democratic functioning of the EU and its Member States; whereas the media play an essential role in democratic society, by acting as public watchdogs, while helping to inform and empower citizens, through widening their understanding of the current political and social landscape, and fostering their conscious participation in democratic life;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas public authorities have the duty not only to refrain from implementing restrictions on freedom of expression, but also the positive obligation to adopt a legal and regulatory framework which fosters the development of free, independent and pluralistic media;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas journalists and other media actors continue to be at risk offace violence, threats, harassment, pressure, self-censorship, public shaming and even assassination in the EU as a result of their investigative activitiescarrying out their job to protect the public interest;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas research consistently finds evidence that women are in the minority across media sectors, particularly in creative roles, and are severely underrepresented at senior, decision-making levels; whereas studies of women’s participation in journalism suggest that, while there is a relatively good gender balance among entrants into the journalism profession, the distribution of decision-making responsibilities is characterised by a significant gender disparity and it is a fact that women journalists face gender-specific forms of violence, such as sexual and online harassment;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas in addition to violence, intimidation and harassment of journalists there is lack of prosecution of the perpetrators of these crimes; whereas governments have a responsibility not only to respect journalism, but also to ensure that journalists and their sources are protected by strong laws, the prosecution of perpetrators and ample security where necessary;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas investigative journalism should be promoted as a form of civic engagement and as an act of civic virtue supported by communication, learning, education and training;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the internet and social media may play a role in spreading hate speech and fostering radicalisation leading to violent extremism, especially far-right violent extremism, through the circulation of illegal content;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the spread of false news and disinformation, available via social media or search websitess well as disproportionate actions to tackle it on digital platforms, poses a threat to freedom of speech and expression and the independence of the media, and has strongly impaired the credibility of the traditional media;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas disinformation related to COVID-19 may cause panic and social unrest and needs to be addressed; whereas measures to combat disinformation cannot be used as a pretext for introducing disproportionate restrictions on press freedom; whereas some governments have taken advantage of emergency legislation to do so and while some of the restrictions will be temporary, others risk being extended long after the health crisis is over;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines the crucial role that investigative journalists play in holding power to account and performing their functions as watchdogs for democracy and the rule of law and highlights that whistle-blowing is an essential element for investigative journalism and freedom of press; deplores that journalists and whistle-blowers have been subject to legal prosecution instead of legal protection when, acting in the public interest, they disclose information or report suspected misconduct, wrongdoing, fraud or illegal activity;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Strongly reiterates its call on the Commission to treat attempts by Member State governments to damage media freedom and pluralism as constituting a serious and systematic abuse of powers and as going against the fundamental values of the EU as enshrined in Article 2 TEU; welcomes, therefore, the Commission’s intention to include a specific chapter on monitoring media freedom and pluralism in its Annual Report on the Situation of the Rule of Law within the EU; urges the Commission to take into account the impact of the emergency measures taken in 2020 in the context of COVID-19 on press freedom, media pluralism and safety of journalists, including an overview of the attacks against journalists across the EU and the responses provided by Member States in this regard; in this context, recalls Parliament’s repeated call for a permanent, independent and comprehensive mechanism covering democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote programs and policies aimed at fostering media and news literacy for journalists, media actors and the general public, and at developing a critical and conscious appreciation of the use of ICT such as, for instance, awareness raising campaigns concerning the rights and possible risks in the digital sphere;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Underlines the importance of ensuring adequate working conditions for journalists and media workers, in full compliance with the requirements of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Social Charter; asks the Commission and the Member States, therefore, to promote and elaborate new socially sustainable economic models aimed at financing and supporting quality and independent journalism; asks the Member States to strengthen financial support to public service providers and investigative journalism while refraining from involvement in editorial decisions;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the Commission to promote common policies intended to bridge the digital divide within and among the Member States along all its lines (wealth, gender, age, geographical and social conditions);
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that excessive concentration of ownership in the content- producing and content-distributing sectors may threaten citizens’ access to a range of content; underlines that media pluralism, which depends on the existence of a diversity of media ownership and of content as well as independent journalism,; is key to challenging the spread of disinformation and ensuring that EU citizenvites the Member States to fully support and endorse the COE Recommendation of 7 March 2018 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on media pluralism and trans pare well- informedncy of media ownership;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Emphasises that freedom of the press requires independence from political and economic power, which implies equal treatment regardless of editorial orientation; reiterates the importance of preserving journalism that benefits from mechanisms which prevent the concentration of single, monopolistic or quasi-monopolistic groups, ensuring free competition and editorial diversity; calls on the Member States to adopt and implement media ownership regulatory frameworks in order to avoid horizontal concentration of ownership in the media sector and indirect and cross-media ownership, and to guarantee transparency, disclosure, and easy accessibility for citizens to information on media ownership, funding sources and management; underlines the importance of applying appropriate restrictions on media ownership by persons holding public office and of ensuring independent oversight and effective compliance mechanisms in order to prevent conflicts of interest and revolving doors; considers it essential to have independent and impartial national authorities to ensure the effective supervision of the audiovisual media sector;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to urgently introduce EU and national emergency recovery packages to protect the jobs and livelihoods of media workers, support companies and fund public service media through the COVID- 19 crisis; stresses that in the face of the pandemic European citizens need professional, economically secure and independent journalists; reiterates in this context its call for the creation of a permanent European fund for journalists in the framework of the next MFF (2021- 2027), as redrafted following the COVID- 19 crisis, offering direct financial support for independent journalists and media outlets, freelancers and self-employed media workers, and to be managed by independent organisations;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that the new digital environment has exacerbated the problem of the spread of disinformation and has resulted in online platforms playing an influential role in publishing, disseminating and promoting news and other media content; reiterates its concern about the potential threat disinformation, as well as disproportionate responses to it, poses to freedom of expression and information and the independence of the media;
Amendment 249 #
15. Recalls that political profiling, disinformation and manipulation of information may be used by political parties and private or public entities, and reiterates its concern about the fact that evidence of interference is continuously coming to light, often with indications of foreign influence, in the run-up to all major national and EU elections, with much of this interferencepotential impact on the democratic debate eventually benefiting anti- EU, extreme right-wing and populist candidates and targeting specific minorities and vulnerable groups;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Points out that different forms of misinformation and disinformation, as well as other forms of information manipulation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to proliferate around the world and have potentially harmful consequences for public security, health and effective crisis management; recalls that all measures to combat disinformation, including those taken in the context of the COVID-19 emergency, need to be necessary, proportionate, temporary and subject to regular oversight, and may under no circumstances prevent journalists and media actors from carrying out their work or lead to content being unduly blocked on the internet; stresses that resorting to other measures, such as content take-downs and censorship, may result in limiting access to important information for public health and should only be undertaken where they meet the standards of necessity and proportionality; highlights that any attempts to criminalise information relating to the pandemic may create distrust in institutional information, delay access to reliable information and have a chilling effect on freedom of expression;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reminds the Commission and the Member States as well as the private sector, in particular online platforms, and civil society as a whole of the need for joint action when it comes to the fight against disinformation, and acknowledges the positive impact of the voluntary actions taken by some service providers and platforms to counter disinformation; by flagging content that might be false; in this regards, stresses that removing online content, in the absence of a judicial order determining its illegal nature, has a strong impact on the freedom of expression and information and risks resulting in censorship;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses that using automated tools in content moderation may endanger freedom of expression and information; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to ensure full transparency by private companies and governments in the use of algorithms, artificial intelligence and automated decision-making, which should not be implemented and developed in a way and with the intent of arbitrary blocking, filtering and removing internet contents, and to guarantee that any EU digital policy and strategy must be drafted with human rights based approach, providing for appropriate remedies and safeguards and in full compliance with the relevant provisions of the EU Charter of fundamental rights and of the ECHR;