The role of a media regulator is to safeguard democratic values and ensure a fair and transparent environment for the media and public discourse. Under the Media Services Act, the Council for Media Services (CMS) is entrusted with several responsibilities related to combating disinformation, including initiating and carrying out research and analytical activities in the media sector for the purpose of monitoring and assessing the state of the media environment, including the dissemination of disinformation. In addition, pursuant to § 110(3)(q) of the Media Services Act, the Council cooperates with online content-sharing platforms to support the effective, proportionate, and non-discriminatory application of their service rules.
Disinformation and the protection of the integrity of the media environment are among the key issues at the European level. The European Board for Media Services (EBMS), established under the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), promotes cooperation among national regulators and a coordinated approach to addressing challenges arising in the digital space, including the spread of disinformation, content manipulation, and the protection of fundamental rights online.
The Council for Media Services actively participates in the work of the EBMS across all of its working groups and plays a significant role in efforts to counter disinformation. Stanislav Matějka, Head of International Relations at the CMS, chairs the EBMS Working Group on the Protection of Citizens in the Online Environment, whose objective is to strengthen the resilience of EU citizens and enhance their ability to navigate the information environment. The group focuses on several cross-cutting areas, including combating disinformation, protecting minors, and promoting media and information literacy.
The Working Group also takes into account current European initiatives aimed at protecting the information environment, including the forthcoming European Democracy Shield, which seeks to strengthen the EU’s resilience against disinformation and foreign information manipulation.
By the end of 2026, an assessment report on information manipulation is expected to be published. Building on the EBMS’s previous work, the report will identify the risks posed by information manipulation to society and democratic processes and assess possible options for countering such threats effectively. Its findings will serve as a basis for preparing a structured dialogue with online platforms and will also support the EBMS’s involvement in the Permanent Task Force established under the Code of Practice on Disinformation.