Media companies do not have to disclose ownership structure
Media companies should not be required to disclose who their owners are. The Federal Council recommends rejecting a motion to that effect introduced by National Council member Philipp Hadorn (SP/SO). It cites a lack of regulatory authority in this area.
The Federal Council plans to submit a draft for a new law on electronic media for consultation in the first half of 2018. However, this new law will exclude the press. A comprehensive disclosure obligation for all media, including the press, is not planned, the Federal Council wrote in its response to the initiative on Thursday.
Many left-wing parliamentarians who co-signed the motion criticize the fact that media companies lack transparency regarding their ownership structure. This is because the media make a significant contribution to the democratic formation of opinion.
By concealing the actual ownership, there is "a risk that the free formation of opinion will be impaired". Against the backdrop of the ongoing debate on media concentration and media quality, this is dangerous.(SDA)
