Media laws at Slovenia
Slovenia's media laws have undergone significant reforms in recent years, aiming to enhance transparency, reduce political influence, and address emerging challenges in the media landscape. Here's an overview of the key developments:
🏛️ Public Media Reform
In 2023, Slovenia enacted a new law to safeguard the independence of its public broadcaster, RTV Slovenija (RTV SLO), The reform consolidated the Programming Council and the Advisory Board into a single 17-member body, with members predominantly elected by RTV SLO staff and civil society, thereby limiting government influence, This move was widely supported by media freedom organizations and civil society groups, However, the new law has faced criticism for provisions that could undermine journalistic independence, Notably, it allows for surveillance of journalists and mandates the disclosure of their sources under certain conditions, raising concerns about press freedom
📜 Media Law Overhaul
In December 2024, Slovenia introduced a comprehensive revision of its Media Act, the first in over two decade. The draft bill includes measures to:
Enhance transparency by requiring media organizations to disclose ownership structure.
Regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in media, including mandatory labeling of AI-generated content and a ban on deepfakes, except in specific contexts like satire and education
Establish a National Media Council to oversee media pluralism and advise on ownership concentration, The reform also proposes a "pluralisation fund" to support media diversity, though critics argue it may disproportionately benefit certain media outlets
📈 Press Freedom and Regulatory Bodies
Slovenia has made progress in press freedom rankings, moving from 50th to 42nd place in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, The country's regulatory framework includes:
*Agency for Communication Networks and Services (AKOS): Oversees electronic communications and audiovisual media services.
*Broadcasting Council of the Republic of Slovenia (SRDF): Provides expert opinions on media regulation
Despite these advancements, challenges remain, particularly concerning media ownership concentration and the financial stability of public media outles.
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