On August 8, 2025, the European Media Freedom Act was implemented, purportedly to guarantee freedom of expression for the media and the right to information for citizens. But is that really the case? A closer analysis of this law brings to mind the slogan of the supranationalist socialist regime portrayed in George Orwell’s famous dystopian novel 1984—“Freedom is Slavery.”
The law entered into force on May 7, 2024, but only became fully effective across all member states of the Union on August 8th of this year, with Ursula von der Leyen announcing it with satisfaction on X.
According to the official page of the European Commission, the Act introduces “new rules to protect pluralism and independence” of media outlets, whether public or private. These rules are intended to safeguard media from unjustified removal of online content by very large online platforms (as recently occurred in Italy) and to ensure editorial independence within the cross-border market, free from undue pressure by any kind of lobby—including, presumably, those stemming from political parties, governments, and bureaucrats of various affiliations.
Moreover, the Act is also intended to protect journalists and media outlets from potential measures by member states aimed at limiting their independence and freedom of speech. Such measures include detention, sanctions, interception, intrusive surveillance, inspection, publication bans, obligations to disclose sensitive or confidential information, and other similar actions designed to restrict press freedom, such as prior censorship, unjustified revocation of licences, or seizure of devices.
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