Since August 2025, media organisations have been able to benefit from specific procedural safeguards relating to moderation decisions taken by large online platforms.
It is important to note that Article 18 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) does not prevent content from being removed. Instead, it requires very large online platforms – already designated under the Digital Services Act (DSA) – to apply enhanced procedural safeguards when handling content published by professional media organisations.
In practice, what changes?
If your media organisation is recognised under Article 18:
- you must be informed before one of your pieces of content is removed, demoted, or made less visible;
- you are, in principle, given 24 hours to respond;
- your appeals must be treated as a priority;
- enhanced dialogue mechanisms are available in the event of disagreements.
The objective is to prevent the automated or insufficiently justified removal of journalistic content, while preserving platforms’ ability to act against illegal content or material that breaches their terms of service.
This mechanism applies to very large online platforms that provide access to media content, including social networks, video platforms, and content-sharing services. On the beneficiary side, it applies to established media organisations and, under certain conditions, to independent professionals engaged in structured editorial activity. Marketplaces and services without a media function are not covered.
What you need to do to benefit from it
Large platforms are required to introduce declaration mechanisms. Media organisations, for their part, should prepare the necessary information in advance – such as identifying editorial accounts, gathering supporting documentation, and designating an internal contact point – in order to invoke the safeguards provided quickly and effectively.
To obtain this status, you must declare yourself to the platforms and demonstrate that you:
- comply with recognised editorial standards;
- are editorially independent;
- ensure transparency regarding ownership and governance;
- guarantee meaningful human oversight over content involving artificial intelligence (AI).
The role of regulators and the Media Board
The European Board for Media Services generally intervenes at a later stage, where platforms’ internal mechanisms and dialogue between the parties have failed to resolve the issue. National regulatory authorities, such as ALIA, may be consulted in cases of uncertainty regarding the status of a media actor, or where recurring problems arise in the national implementation of the mechanism.
Monitoring and support
Initial feedback at the European level has already highlighted questions of interpretation and differing practices between platforms. The structured dialogue planned for late 2026 will specifically gather these experiences and, if necessary, adjust the implementation of the mechanism.
During this phase, media organisations will play a key role: testing the implemented mechanisms, documenting any encountered difficulties, and sharing feedback with their national regulatory authorities.
ALIA will closely monitor the implementation of this mechanism and remain attentive to the sector’s needs and experiences.
For a detailed presentation of platform obligations and eligibility conditions, the European Commission’s guidelines on Article 18 are available online.