Dr Tobias Schmid, Director of the Landesanstalt für Medien Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW), welcomed Cindy Bauwens, Director of ALIA, and her team for a discussion focusing on media regulation at the European level and the challenges associated with artificial intelligence.
This encounter took place in a context of strengthened cooperation between European media regulation authorities. ALIA plays an active role alongside the Landesanstalt für Medien NRW and other Member States in the subgroup ‘Evolution of Media Regulatory Framework’ of the Media Board, chaired by Germany. This working group will mainly focus on the evaluation of the Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive, to ensure effective complementarity between the AVMS Directive and the Digital Services Act (DSA). It will also examine the advisability of considering a possible broadening of the scope of the AVMS Directive, ensuring a level playing field between AVMS providers and platforms in terms of commercial communications, as well as harmonising the rules for highlighting content of public interest.
The discussions also focused on the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence in the monitoring of online content. The Landesanstalt für Medien NRW has developed KIVI, an artificial intelligence-based tool that automatically analyses websites and social networks to detect potentially harmful content, particularly with regard to extremism and the protection of minors. It works by combining algorithmic detection and human validation, with a system of continuous learning. Already in use in Germany, KIVI has enabled the reporting of thousands of offences and is attracting growing interest from other European regulators. Its potential as a monitoring tool could inspire ALIA in its reflections on the use of AI to strengthen its capacity to control and analyse audiovisual content.
This exchange strengthened the collaboration between ALIA and the Landesanstalt für Medien NRW on the key issues of media regulation. It illustrates the importance of exchanges between European authorities to anticipate developments in the media landscape and guarantee regulation adapted to the new digital challenges.
