VIENNA, Oct. 22, 2025 — The OSCE Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) and the Forum on Information and Democracy (FID) unveiled a new policy manual titled “Safeguarding Media Freedom in the Age of Big Tech Platforms and AI”, designed to help OSCE participating States uphold freedom of expression, media pluralism, and information integrity in the digital era.
The manual was presented during the OSCE RFoM’s international conference, “Healthy Online Information Spaces: From Policy Guidance to Pathways Forward”, held in Vienna and online.
A Response to Digital Challenges
Developed through a year of research, expert roundtables, and consultations with over 150 scholars and practitioners, the manual addresses the concentration of power, lack of transparency, and human rights risks posed by dominant tech platforms. It offers concrete policy guidance to promote the visibility and viability of public interest journalism, and to ensure the online safety of journalists.
Ambassador Jan Braathu, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, emphasized:
“States must ensure Big Tech does not restrict access to journalistic content. This manual provides tools and principled guidance grounded in international human rights standards and OSCE commitments.”
Journalism’s Uneasy Dependence on Big Tech
The manual highlights journalism’s growing reliance on digital platforms for audience reach, financial sustainability, and content distribution. This dependency has led to diminished visibility of fact-based reporting and threatens the economic viability of independent media.
Camille Grenier, Executive Director of FID, stated:
“Media freedom and access to reliable information require democratic regulation of the digital space. This manual empowers States to act urgently and cooperatively.”
A Call for Democratic Oversight
Steering Committee co-chairs Anya Schiffrin and Natali Helberger warned that the concentration of economic and technological power in a few platforms poses a serious threat to democratic discourse. The manual outlines actionable steps to counter this imbalance and reinforce media independence.
The OSCE RFoM continues to monitor media developments across its 57 participating States, offering early warnings and promoting compliance with media freedom commitments.
Summary: The OSCE and FID’s new policy manual provides a strategic framework for protecting media freedom and public interest journalism in the face of Big Tech dominance and AI disruption. It calls on States to implement democratic safeguards and uphold international standards for press freedom.
Sources: OSCE Press Release Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; Healthy Online Information Spaces Conference Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
