(Left) Natali Helberger, Professor at the Institute for Information Law, University of Amsterdam. Photo courtesy of Natali Helberger.

With the rise of online platforms, such as search engines, social networks, e-commerce platforms and app st
ores, “content” is no longer the privilege of traditional media. Instead, new players are competing for consumers’ attention, leaving publishers to navigate their way through this new digital environment.

In a new article by Prof. Dr. Natali Helberger (University of Amsterdam), the concerns and questions new information intermediaries bring to the table are explored, particularly in regards to the effect they have on media diversity. Additionally, Helberger looks into the regulatory options for safeguarding media pluralism and regulating these new gatekeepers, who are increasingly in control of consumer data.

This article is particularly relevant in light of the upcoming online platforms consultation expected from the European Commission, which is part of the Commission’s commitment to assess the role of platforms, specifically market trends, the dynamics of platform-development, the social and economic role of platforms, and the various business models underpinning platforms.

You can read the article in it’s entirety by clicking here (pdf).

Natali will be in Brussels next week to discuss this topic at the upcoming Future Media Lounge event, “Digital Platforms: Helping or hurting media pluralism?”, which is taking place on Tuesday, 29 September at the European Parliament. Additional speakers for the event include Dr. Sebastian Doedens, Head of Public Affairs at Hubert Burda Media; Erika Mann, Director EU Affairs at Facebook; MEP Dita Charanzová (ALDE, Czech Republic); MEP Michał Boni (EPP, Poland); and Thomas Höppner, Competition lawyer at Olswang Ltd.