The Government approved a draft amendment to the Media Services Act, the aim of which is to bring the Estonian legal space into conformity with the European Union Media Freedom Regulation. The amendments will strengthen media freedom, increase transparency and update the regulation of broadcasting.

"The amendments to the Media Services Act will reduce excessive bureaucracy for radio and television channels and simplify their daily work. At the same time, these changes will help strengthen our well-functioning and reliable media space and social security," said Minister of Culture Heidy Purga.

The Bill will update the regulation of media services and increase the transparency of state advertising and media ownership. The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) will also have additional rights to restrict the retransmission of audiovisual media services outside the European Union if it endangers the safety of society.

In order to support Estonian culture, the requirement to follow the share of music by Estonian authors in radio programmes, which was previously established as a secondary condition, will be brought to the level of the Act. In addition, in order to reduce excessive requirements for undertakings, the procedure for granting radio licences will be simplified and a number of existing ancillary conditions will be eliminated.

The Bill extends the protection of journalists' sources to their next of kin. The proposed specifications will bring a line of defence to Estonian law at the European Union level, which will preclude attempts to identify sources by monitoring journalists or their relatives. At the same time, law enforcement authorities will have a clear and operational framework to respond to serious threats and crimes.

The Bill implements the European Media Freedom Act, which entered into force on 8 August 2025, in order to protect media pluralism and independence. It also concerns the laws in the area of government of the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior, and is an important step in strengthening the Estonian media space and implementing the common values of the European Union.

https://www.kul.ee/uudised/meediateenuste-seaduse-eelnou-jouab-riigikokku