Mediaboss Marketing

Brussels, November 25

Concerned by the misuse of political advertising to undermine elections, the European Union on Thursday unveiled plans to help people better understand when they are seeing such ads online and who is responsible for them.

The proposals, aimed at ensuring fair and transparent polls or referendums, would also ban political targeting and amplification techniques used to reach a wider audience if they use sensitive personal data like ethnic origin, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation without a citizens permission.

Digital advertising for political purposes is becoming an unchecked race of dirty and opaque methods, European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova said. A myriad of data analytics and communication firms work daily with our data to try to figure out the best way to convince us to buy something or vote for someone or not to vote at all.

She said people must know why they are seeing an ad, who paid for it, how much, what micro-targeting criteria were used. New technologies should be tools for emancipation, not for manipulation.

The commission, the EUs executive branch, hopes that the 27 member countries and the European Parliament will have debated and endorsed the proposals in national law by 2023, in time for Europe-wide elections the following year.

Companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter would face fines if they failed to comply.

Facebook, which has faced heavy criticism for its lack of transparency on political ads, welcomed the move.

We have long called for EU-wide regulation on political ads and are pleased that the Commissions proposal addresses some of the more difficult questions, in particular when it comes to cross border advertising, the company, which recently renamed itself Meta, said in a press statement.

Under the plan, political ads would have to be clearly labelled, and prominently display the name of the sponsor, with a transparency notice that explains how much the ad cost and where the funds to pay for it came from. The material would have to have a direct link to the vote or poll concerned.

Information must be available about the basis on which a person, or group of people, is being targeted by the advertisement, and what kind of amplification tools are being used to help the sponsor reach a wider audience. Ads would be banned if such criteria cannot be met.

Jourova told reporters that the sensitive data that people decide to share with friends on social media cannot be used to target them for political purposes. She said that either companies like Facebook are able to publicly say who they are targeting, why and how or they will not be able to do it.

The system would be policed by data protection authorities in each of the EU member countries. National authorities would be required to impose effective, proportionate and dissuasive fines when the rules are broken.

The plans also received a cautious welcome from industry.

Currently each state has its own approach for political ads, so more guidance at the EU level would help promote EU-wide efforts, which is particularly important for smaller companies, said Victoria de Posson, senior manager at The Computer & Communications Industry Association.

But she said that clarification is needed on definitions and targeting requirements and wants the EU to consult industry and civil society representatives to ensure that the new legislative framework sets effective rules and shared responsibilities among stakeholders, thus making the law work better in practice. AP

Continued here:
European Union to limit political ads, ban use of certain personal info - The Tribune

The EU has published a draft law that would blacklist airlines and travel operators that fly people to countries on its borders as part of attempts to destabilise the bloc, in its latest response to the crisis at the Poland-Belarus border.

The proposal does not specifically mention Belarus, whose authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, is accused of engineering the arrival of thousands of people at the Polish border, where a desperate humanitarian situation has played out in recent weeks.

Companies could be banned from flying through the EU and landing and refuelling at EU airports, regardless of whether their involvement in attempts at destabilisation was intentional or not. The proposal closes a gap in EU sanctions laws, which are country-specific.

The EU recently agreed to extend sanctions against Belarus, but it can only target Belarusian companies rather than foreign airlines involved in bringing people to Minsk from the Middle East.

Ylva Johansson, the EU home affairs commissioner, said the law was needed in response to an unprecedented situation. She said Lukashenko was trying to sell tickets to the EU, charging people 10,000-20,000 for a one-way trip to Minsk and onward travel to the EU border.

We see the need to reach out directly to those travel companies which unintentionally, most of the time are being part of a state-sponsored smuggling scheme orchestrated by a desperate and non-democratic regime, Johansson said.

European Commission officials believe much of the value of the law lies in the power to deter companies from getting involved in such schemes. Hopefully we dont need to use it, Johansson said, adding that it had taken airline companies some time to understand how they are being used.

Turkish Airlines and Iraqi Airways restricted flights to Minsk after EU officials began talks with Middle Eastern governments on the issue.

Speaking to the European parliament, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the situation on the EUs eastern border was not a migration crisis, but an attempt by an authoritarian regime to try and destabilise its democratic neighbours.

These migrants are being cheated by terrible false promises. We have to fight against this and thats why we wish to establish a blacklist for all modes and means of transport on the basis of international legislation.

She urged MEPs to support the proposals to make sure they were approved quickly.

The proposal also has to be approved by EU ministers.

Belaruss interior ministry announced that more people would leave the country on Tuesday, after 122 left on Monday.

Lukashenko admitted in a recent interview with the BBC that it was absolutely possible that Belarusian state troops had helped people cross the border into Poland, although he denied being responsible for the crisis.

Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis who have managed to cross the border and reach the Polish city of Biaystok have told the Guardian they bought visa travel packages from agencies that appeared to be closely connected to the Belarusian authorities.

Since the crisis began, about 7,500 people from the Middle East have reached Lithuania, Latvia and Poland via Belarus, and 8,000 have arrived in Germany from Belarus via Poland, according to EU officials.

Last month Polands parliament passed a law allowing border guards to return asylum seekers across the border without hearing their asylum claims.

Johannson, a Swedish Social Democrat responsible for the EUs migration policy, said the commission had issues with the Polish law. We think there are elements of this law that are not compliant with the EU acquis, she said.

Under the Geneva conventions, refugees cannot be penalised for illegal border crossings.

People stuck in the no mans land between the EU and Belarus have spoken of being pushed between both countries, denied entry to Poland and return to Belarus. Asked about widespread reports of pushbacks, Johansson said this was not EU policy. We are not allowing pushbacks. We will not allow pushbacks.

She added: We should not legalise pushbacks, but its also important to say member states are obliged to prevent unauthorised entries. Sometimes the debate is a bit black or white. We have to do both. We do not have free entry to the European Union We have to protect our external border but we have to do it in a way that is compliant with European values.

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EU threatens to blacklist airlines linked to border influx - The Guardian

The Council of the European Union adopted two proposals for digital assets on Wednesday, aiming to create regulatory frameworks for crypto assets focused on consumer protection and mitigating cyber threats.

Both the Regulation on Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) are part of the Council's digital finance package. That package also contains the Council's overall strategy related to crypto asset regulation and a proposal on distributed ledger technology. The intention is to create unified rules of the road for crypto in the EU to foster innovation with investor protection throughout member states, rather than allowing a fragmented approach to form in which standards differ from nation to nation.

"A dedicated and harmonised framework is therefore necessary at Union level to provide specific rules for crypto-assets and related activities and services and to clarify the applicable legal framework," read a proposal in the package. "Such harmonised framework should also cover services related to cryptoassets where these services are not yet covered by Union legislation on financial services."

The MiCA creates a framework for the issuance and services related to transferrable crypto assets, mainly calling on firms to be transparent in their operations through white papers submitted with any prospectuses and mandating that marketing be "fair" and "clearly identifiable" as ads. Any central bank digital currencies or tokens issued by other public authorities are exempt from the framework, as are tokens that function like loyalty points, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or tokens representing physical assets or services. The proposal is also clear that the regulations will apply to natural or legal persons, not the tech itself.

The DORA creates information and communication technology risk management mandates. In addition to mandating testing of these systems to stave off cyber risks, it creates a uniform reporting framework for any incidents. It also empowers European regulators to take a closer look at a firm's use of third-party service providers used for information or communication technology.

The Council will enter into negotiations with the Parliament on the proposals, and once they reach a provisional agreement, both institutions will formally adopt the regulations.

For more breaking stories like this, make sure to follow The Block onTwitter.

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Council of the European Union moves forward on two crypto proposals - The Block Crypto

After years of tense relations between Rome and Paris, the agreement is expected to boost cooperation. But is it enough to change the power centre within the EU?

Tense relations between Italy and France almost two years ago were described by France as ''the worst of its kind since World War Two'' - when former Italian prime minister Benito Mussolini declared war on France in 1940.

The most recent tumult between the two countries included the then Italian deputy prime ministers Matteo Salvini of the right-wing Northern League and Luigi Di Maio of the populist, anti-establishment Five Star Movement verbal attacks on French President Emmanuel Macron and Di Maio's meeting with the Gilet Jaune (Yellow Vests) protest leaders. Paris recalled its ambassador in retaliation.

The countries have obviously not always seen eye to eye but in recent times tensions have focused largely on European Union migration.

The Quirinale Treaty is expected to be signed between the countries on November 25, signalling a new chapter in relations with President Macron and current Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

According to Teresa Coratella and Arturo Varvelli, researchers of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), the Franco-Italian pact is a mutual need to overcome divergences and improve internal cooperation.

''The objective is to contribute together to a stronger EU as a geopolitical and sovereign actor able to promote its priorities and defend its interests challenges by the Great Powers Competition,'' Coratella and Varvelli told TRT World.

The agreement comes as countries are taking stock of economic dynamics within the EU as well as the developments of the Green Deal which could have an impact on both countries.

Main agendaThe 60-page Treaty is aimed at advancing industrial and strategic cooperation between the two countries. In this sense, it resembles the Franco-German Elysee Treaty ratified in 1963.

''It covers many strategic dossiers, however, the agenda is still very secret and kept quite secret, which are part of the Italian and French domestic and foreign agenda,'' said Coratella and Varvelli. They also indicated that topics may include traditional issues such as migration, Europe, defence, foreign affairs and other areas like pandemic-related geopolitical developments.

The NextGenerationEU recovery plan for sustainability, ecological transition and economic development may also be a part of the treaty.

Bodo Weber, a Senior Associate of the Democratization Policy Council (DPC), said that the treaty comes at a turning point for the EU, considering the intermediate period in Germany with the end of the Angela Merkel-era and ahead of France's EU presidency next year.

''The treaty aims to formalise bilateral cooperation and relationship between Italy and France and putting an end to the previous Italian government 5-Star's continuous tensions with France,'' Weber added.

Draghi and Macron have known each other for quite some time since the Italian premier was appointed as the president of the European Central Bank in 2011.

Their relations have developed in recent months as the Italian premier has a pro-EU bent compared to the previous anti-EU government and is interested in finding a stronger role for Italy within the EU.

They have common perspectives on policy issues relating to Libya, China and Russia, and are also aligned on EU monetary policies.

German involvement

In this regard, some claim that the treaty may shift the power balance within the EU particularly with the departure of German Chancellor Merkel after over 16 years in power.

But according to Coratella and Varvelli, this agreement symbolises a new juncture between France and Italy with German involvement.

''Once the new German government will be settled, it will be involved in the Franco-Italian cooperation,'' they said while adding that this is a natural process and is a common Italian attitude towards Berlin based on balance and tradition.

For Weber, this seems to be an initiative to create a bridge between southern and northern Europe the so-called frugal states considering their different political positions on EU funding and future fiscal policies.

''If France-Italy cooperates closer then, it would mean close cooperation with other South-Western member states like Spain and Portugal.''

''I think the officials from both sides try to make clear that this is not an initiative that is trying to weaken the position of Germany,'' he said while adding France has a certain interest in filling the defence gap of the EU leadership during this period of governmental change in Germany.

Although there is speculation about whether Germany can continue the domination spearheaded by Angela Merkel, Weber argues that with its new coalition government it can still compete.

''I don't think the French-Italian relations will remain without tensions in future within the EU and I'm pretty sure that even under the new government, and with the new German Chancellor, we'll see the continuation of strong German role,'' he said, highlighting the most traditionally pro-EU party, the Greens' prominent role in defining the future of the coalition government.

Nevertheless, it is certain that the Rome-Paris cooperation will have a particular influence on the EU.

''We have now a renewed consolidated political axis between Rome and Paris which of course will have implications on EU dynamics which however should be seen in a positive way,'' said Coratella and Varvelli, asserting that strong Italian-French-German relations would mean a stronger Europe.

Source: TRT World

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Will the France-Italy deal shift the European Union's balance of power? - TRT World

On 11 November 2021, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2021/19651.

The Council has decided that the restrictive measures should be renewed for a further period of 12 months, until 14 November 2022. The Council also decided to amend the statement of reasons of twenty-six persons listed in Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074.

The Candidate Countries The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania2 and the EFTA countries Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the European Economic Area, as well Georgia align themselves with this Council Decision.

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.

1Published on 12.11.2021 in the Official Journal of the European Union L 400/148.

2The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of the...