This year’s conference was dedicated to the role of media in elections and the legal challenges posed by information manipulation. In an era where the political discourse increasingly unfolds on social media and talk shows, the event addressed pressing questions: Under what regulatory framework does election reporting fall? How can the public be safeguarded against information manipulation? One of the essential key statements was that ensuring free and fair elections depends on reliable and unbiased media coverage.
The conference gathered media lawyers and experts from Germany, the USA and Southeast Europe to discuss these challenges 10 days prior to the German Bundestag elections.
The event was opened by Christoph Plate, Director of the Media Programme South East Europe at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, alongside with Prof. Dr. Johannes Weberling and Prof. Dr. Benjamin Lahusen from the European University Viadrina. A keynote address given by Karen Kaiser, General Counsel at the Associated Press, examined media influence during the 2024 US Presidential Election, highlighting the main messages prior, during and after the elections took place.
One of the key topics was election-related propaganda in Southeast Europe. Experts from the region discussed recent examples of disinformation campaigns and their impact on democratic processes. Further discussions among representatives of the media regulators in Germany, Moldova and Romania addressed the role of state media authorities in combating disinformation and outlined legal frameworks and challenges in enforcing media regulations.
The conference also tackled the growing influence of Big Tech on elections. The debates included strategies to counter digital manipulation, emphasizing the responsibility of platforms in preventing the spread of false information.
The conference was closed by Prof. Dr. Johannes Weberling, summarizing the key takeaways. He underscored the necessity of maintaining a balance between combatting disinformation and protecting freedom of speech. The discussions reaffirmed the importance of independent journalism and legal safeguards to ensure the integrity of democratic elections.
The 21st Frankfurt Days on Media Law provided a forum for dialogue, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of media regulation and electoral integrity.
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