Serbia media regulator fails to adopt election monitoring report

The Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) in Serbia failed to adopt its first monitoring report for the period of September 9 to 23. The decision was made after only three of the seven council members voted in favor of the report, which tracked 11 media outlets during the election campaign. Observers noted a significant increase in the presence of analysts and journalists compared to official candidates in commercial and cable media.

REM President Stevica Smederevac stated that more than 10 investigative proceedings have been launched against various media providers, including public services and national broadcasters, to determine if regulations were violated. The council has also postponed decisions regarding the extension of licenses for cable operators pending new, more detailed reports.

Separately, Tamara Filipović, General Secretary of the Independent Journalists Association of Serbia (NUNS), described the media situation in Serbia as among the worst in Europe regarding press freedom and threats to journalists. She highlighted the emerging risks of artificial intelligence in election campaigns, emphasizing the need for transparency to prevent citizens from being manipulated by AI-generated content.