Video Sharing Platforms (VSP)

Any audiovisual media services provider intending to offer this type of service must, at the latest 20 days before the launch of the service, notify its intention to the Minister in charge of the media.

Unlike the Authority’s missions in the field of supervision of conventional television, for example, ALIA’s role, in the context of the regulation of VSP, is not focused on the supervision of content, but it is the Authority’s responsibility to ensure that VSP implement systems and security mechanisms that provide effective protection to their users against certain well-defined content.

These measures include, among others, the provision on their services of:

•  a feature allowing creators to declare the presence of audiovisual commercial communications in their videos
• reporting mechanisms
• systems informing users of the follow-up given to their reports and warnings
• age verification systems
• classification systems
• parental control systems

Providers are also required to establish transparent, user-friendly and efficient procedures for handling user complaints about the implementation of these features.

By providing such tools, users are empowered and better equipped to shape their own online experience and to contribute to maintaining a safer online environment on the services. Thus, providers are obliged to offer effective media literacy measures and tools and to make users aware of these measures.

It is important to note that the Authority does not intervene directly on the content published on online platforms. Its mission is to supervise the means implemented by providers to protect the public and to evaluate their effectiveness. Therefore, users are not addressing their reports to the Authority, but directly to the platforms. They are responsible for making moderation decisions and for taking the responsibility to intervene within a reasonable time. In addition to automated detection systems, user reports are essential for identifying content that violates the terms of service and community guidelines of video sharing platforms, thus contributing to the exercise of moderation responsibilities by providers.

The Authority may require providers to submit an annual or biennial report detailing the measures they have taken to comply with legal and regulatory provisions. Providers are thus encouraged to collect and analyse, for example, data on the interaction of users with the tools made available to them as well as on the number of reports received, the number of reports processed, the types of content reported, the actions taken in response, etc. to monitor the responsiveness and effectiveness of the measures implemented. Supervising activities on their services can help providers identify possible security breaches and vulnerabilities, assess risks and, if necessary, implement appropriate or proactive measures to reduce these risks.