Konrad Bleyer-Simon
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ksimon.bsky.social
Konrad Bleyer-Simon
@ksimon.bsky.social
Researcher - media pluralism and online platforms @ Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom & Global Media Registry
Reposted by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
I was selfish and took the milestone episode to explain why we must get off US tech, some options that are already available to us, but also why our governments need to step up.

We can’t keep allowing the US government and Silicon Valley billionaires to have so much power over us!
Tech Won’t Save Us is celebrating 300 episodes! 🎉

This week @parismarx.com took over the show to discuss an issue that’s been motivating a lot of his work this year: the problem with our dependence on US tech and why we need digital sovereignty!

Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/300_...
October 31, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Reposted by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
"The U.S. government's decision to withdraw from UNESCO—which has a mandate to protect journalists and press freedom—is a clear declaration of disdain for facts and for the public's right to be informed." — @gypsyrights.bsky.social, CPJ's Chief Global Affairs Officer
July 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
The 2025 #RuleofLaw Report recognises the growing threats to media freedom, but without consequences for non-compliance, the decline will continue.
‼️ECPMF urges the European Commission to specify what penalties will follow failure to implement EMFA & anti-SLAPP measures.
www.ecpmf.eu/eu-rule-of-l...
EU Rule of Law Report: ECPMF Calls for Clear Penalties to Defend Media Freedom
Following the publication of the European Commission's 2025 Rule of Law report, the MFRR calls on the EU to act on the alarming findings to bolster its defence of media freedom across the bloc.
www.ecpmf.eu
July 21, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Reposted by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
The Code of Practice is out! The final result of months of drafting based on the AI Act and feedback from MEPs, Member State governments, civil society, the hundreds of people in the working groups, and AI companies, here ↘️

digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/...
July 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
"A German court has ruled that Meta must pay €5,000 to a German FB user who sued the platform for embedding tracking technology in third-party websites — a ruling that could open the door to large fines down the road over data privacy violations ..." therecord.media/german-court...
German court rules Meta tracking technology violates European privacy laws
The court in Leipzig ruled that Meta must pay €5,000 ($5,900) to a German Facebook user who sued the platform for embedding tracking technology in third-party websites — a ruling that could open the d...
therecord.media
July 10, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
Not sure whether to laugh or cry...
Paramount has joined Disney in paying bribes to Donald Trump, the Washington Post killed its Harris endorsement, Fox News functions as Republican state media, and the X algorithm amplifies fascist content. Here's why the media has a liberal bias problem.
July 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
Budapest Pride 🏳️‍🌈🇭🇺 the ban backfired! Peaceful, safe, happy and huge!
Organisers estimate a crowd over 200,000 people.
June 28, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
27 EU member states mean 27 policy environments to deal with #disinformation . On top of that, there is the EU policy that applies in all member states. We had a country-by-country look in this EDMO report. edmo.eu/wp-content/u...
edmo.eu
June 25, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Who are the actors behind #disinformation in the EU? Are they foreign or local? Do they involve politicians and media? It depends on the country. We looked at the existing evidence in our recent EDMO report. Homegrown information challenges can definitley be found everywhere edmo.eu/wp-content/u...
edmo.eu
June 24, 2025 at 12:07 PM
“Today, there are some good examples of a more progressive Internet, like decentralised apps and open-source tools, but many people don’t use them because they require a higher degree of technical skill.” Was an honour to ask @parismarx.com about exiting big tech. @greeneujournal.bsky.social
June 19, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
Sam Altman isn't keen on you reading my book. EMPIRE OF AI is based on 300+ interviews, 7 yrs covering AI, and my time as the first reporter who got extensive access to OpenAI. I sought OpenAI's perspective throughout. For months they said it was coming. It never did. Pre-order here: empireofai.com.
April 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
And the hidden meaning of Madonna’s Papa don’t preach is also uncovered
Breaking: the Pope is likely a #Belieber.
June 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Breaking: the Pope is likely a #Belieber.
June 15, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Europe’s far-right is running to the US with a proposal of destroying the EU. The world that Trump, Orbán and co. created is getting more surreal by the minute. vsquare.org/heritage-fou...
Renaming the EU, Dismantling the Commission: For What Polish and Hungarian Illiberals Seek U.S. Backing - VSquare.org
The Trump administration's most influential think tank, The Heritage Foundation, is receiving proposals from illiberal forces in Poland and Hungary on how to shape the future of the European Union. Th...
vsquare.org
March 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
She‘s back.
November 26, 2024 at 9:35 PM
Looks like Bluesky is finally happening. I hope Mastodon will catch up soon.
November 23, 2024 at 8:32 PM
There is no risk-free media environment. Even in countries where the media system is widely considered pluralistic and free, media workers face multiple challenges. Funding and regulation need to be constantly adapted to new realities. See: Media Pluralism Monitor. cmpf.eui.eu/media-plural...
Media Pluralism Monitor 2024 - CMPF
The Media Pluralism Monitor is a research project that assesses the health of media ecosystems in Europe, highlighting threats to media pluralism and media freedom in the European Union's Member State...
cmpf.eui.eu
July 8, 2024 at 12:46 PM
Social media political advertising is opaque and unregulated in most EU countries. The exact opposite of the broadcast environment. This can pose risks to EU election integrity. Our blog post with Matteo Trevisan. New EU regulation will improve the situation a lot. cmpf.eui.eu/media-and-eu...
Media pluralism and risks to the fairness of European Parliament Elections: Insights from the forthcoming Media Pluralism Monitor 2024 - Centre for Media Pluralism and Freedom
Media coverage of candidates and the dissemination of political advertising play a vital role in the upcoming EP elections.
cmpf.eui.eu
June 6, 2024 at 10:05 AM
Instead of only trying to save the media, we need to figure out how to create a public sphere that is more inclusive and engaging. I try to explain how, in Polish. archiwumosiatynskiego.pl/images/2024/...
archiwumosiatynskiego.pl
May 26, 2024 at 3:03 PM
This week’s marathon update: at km 23, I was attacked by an angry duck (!). The surprisingly fast animal kept chasing me for several meters. I escaped by looking it in the eyes, while running backwards. Looking forward to aggressive poodles or raccoons next time.
May 12, 2024 at 1:53 PM
Just ran my worst marathon time ever. After 5K, I started feeling kinda sick. Probably because I got up at 4, traveled 3 hours and missed breakfast. Still, quitting was no option: as an Eastern European I knew quite well that free t-shirts are only for those who finish the race.
May 5, 2024 at 12:28 PM
Tomorrow we‘ll be discussing a project that can significantly increase the transparency of the onlionline environment. 14:30 Thursday, 28 March. @disinfo.eu (Details below)
𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 👀❓

What are they? Why are they needed in the fight against disinformation?

Join us to discuss these questions with @olafsteenfadt.bsky.social & @ksimon.bsky.social (Global Media Registry) this Thursday (28 March) afternoon!

Register here 👇 us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
March 27, 2024 at 2:34 PM
This morning, a news #recommender #algorithm selected a #sensationalistic article for me on top #celebrities that committed suicide. Another example how #harmful content can be amplified. I assume, it was not on purpose… 1/7
March 21, 2024 at 10:25 AM
EU getting serious on media freedom. The European Media Freedom Act was approved by the European Parliament today.
March 13, 2024 at 3:39 PM