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European Broadcasters Urge EU to Focus Digital Rules on Big Tech

By  |  April 27, 2026

Europe’s leading broadcasters and media organizations are pushing back against a proposed European Union law aimed at regulating digital practices, warning that the measures could unintentionally harm traditional media sectors already subject to strict oversight.

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    The concerns center on the upcoming Digital Fairness Act, expected to be introduced later this year by EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath. The legislation is designed to address a range of online practices, including so-called “dark patterns,” addictive product design, misleading influencer marketing, pricing transparency, and subscription traps.

    However, industry groups argue that the law risks casting too wide a net. According to Reuters, major broadcasters and publishers believe the proposed rules should instead focus on large technology platforms, whose influence has expanded into areas traditionally dominated by media companies.

    In a letter dated April 21 and seen by Reuters, the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT) expressed concern that the legislation’s “one-size-fits-all” approach could negatively impact sectors that play a key role in democratic discourse. The group’s members include prominent media companies such as Canal+, RTL, ITV, and Warner Bros Discovery.

    The letter, addressed to McGrath and EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen, warned that applying identical obligations across fundamentally different types of organizations could lead to unintended consequences. “The Act could apply the same obligations to structurally distinct actors without sufficient differentiation based on risk, function or market power,” the ACT wrote, according to Reuters.

    Read more: EU Names New Competition Chief Amid Rising Big Tech Scrutiny

    The group further emphasized that new regulatory efforts should prioritize areas where oversight gaps are most significant. “New measures must focus on the segment of the digital environment where significant responsibility gaps persist, rather than our well-regulated sectors that already uphold high editorial standards,” the letter stated, per Reuters.

    The appeal has drawn support from a wide coalition of media-related organizations, including the Association of European Radios, the European Magazine Media Association, the European Publishers Council, and the Motion Picture Association EMEA.

    At the heart of the dispute is the concern that features commonly used in digital media—such as autoplay functions, recommendation algorithms, and personalized advertising—could be swept into stricter regulation. Industry groups argue these tools are not inherently harmful and are essential to sustaining revenue streams that fund journalism and creative production.

    According to Reuters, the organizations are calling for a more targeted, evidence-based approach that takes into account the varying levels of risk and influence among digital actors. They warn that overly broad rules could disrupt business models that underpin media pluralism and independent reporting across Europe.

    Source: Reuters