Dutch Mediaโข Sector Warns โTechโ Giants pose “Serious Threat” โขto Democracy
The โฃHague,โ Netherlands – โขA broad coalition of Dutchโ media organizationsโ – including public broadcasters like NOS, commercial networks, major newspaper publishers, and journalists’ union NVJ – have โissued an urgent warning โthat โฃthe โขdominance of algorithms โfrom American and Chinese tech giants threatens โคdemocracy and reliable facts provision in theโ Netherlands. The unprecedented joint appeal, delivered to the political parties currentlyโค forming a โnew โgovernment, frames the Netherlands as being โat โคa critical juncture.
According to a letter initiated by the Democracy and Media Foundation (SDM), the โcore concern is the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence โ(AI) as โคa primary source of information, โnotably among young โpeople. The organizations cite data indicating that “one in nineโค children โuses exclusively generative AI for their information โขprovision.”
The media sector is โcalling for a coordinating minister responsible for both media and technology policy, recognizing the increasingly โคblurred lines between journalismโ and technology. thay advocate for close involvement inโ the government’s AI policy, rapid implementation ofโข Europeanโ regulations, and improved oversight of media pluralismโค within the Netherlands.
Signatories to the letter include NPO, Talpa, DPG, โMediahuis, Het Financieele Dagblad, De Groene Amsterdammer, Vrij Nederland, Follow the Money, andโค De Correspondent. this marks the โฃfirst time such a comprehensiveโฃ group of Dutch news organizations has collectively addressed politicians with such a direct appeal. โ
The SDM supports projects aimed at bolstering self-reliant journalism, media diversity, and democratic values. The organizations emphasize thatโค media production,โค presentation, โand consumption are โinextricably linked toโ technology, demandingโ that policy reflectโฃ this reality.