Authorities may force platforms to give state media special status

German authorities responsible for media oversight are working on a new regulatory framework that could give state-selected news media an advantage in social media algorithms.

According to reports, a system is being discussed in which certain media outlets are classified as particularly trustworthy, which could result in their content being displayed more often to users on platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The plans are part of the effort to develop a new digital media agreement among the German federal states.

Thorsten Schmiege, who heads Bavaria’s media oversight and also leads the country’s regional media bodies, has said that a first draft law is expected to be presented during the summer. The stated goal is to highlight information considered reliable in users’ feeds.

The leaked documentation describes how the process would work in practice. First, media companies could gain special status as actors of public importance. The decision would be made by ZAK, a commission that includes the heads of Germany’s 14 regional media oversight authorities.

Critics point out, however, that these individuals are appointed by councils and bodies that in several cases are connected to the state parliaments. Therefore, it is argued that politics indirectly gains influence over which media are deemed trustworthy.

Once a media company has received approved status, individual articles and videos can also be labeled as content in the public interest. Platforms could then be obliged to give this material greater visibility by making changes to their recommendation systems. The document also mentions the possibility of introducing some form of quota for how much of this type of content must be prioritized in users’ feeds.

Alternative media are disadvantaged

The proposal is motivated in part by concerns that social media today often rewards material perceived as polarizing, misleading, or designed primarily to attract attention. At the same time, critics have reacted to the fact that the same authority structure would both define what counts as disinformation and decide which news sources should be favored.

Similar systems already exist in a limited form. Since 2025, media outlets with special status have received better placements in certain app stores and smart TV services, where public broadcasters ARD and ZDF have been prioritized. The new proposal would mean applying the same principle to social media.

The regional media oversight authorities have previously found themselves in conflict with alternative and less established media outlets. The Berlin-Brandenburg-based oversight authority, for example, has used media legislation to take action against the right-leaning site Nius after a publication on migration issues.

Formal warnings

Journalist Alexander Wallasch is also said to have been required to delete several articles and conduct a review of his published material. Since 2020, German authorities are said to have sent out a large number of formal warnings to online publications, where smaller independent players have often been the subject of these reviews.

Opponents of the proposal warn that the system could create a climate where editorial teams begin to tailor their reporting to meet government expectations in order to avoid losing visibility on major platforms.

Even though the German media oversight bodies describe themselves as independent from the state, critics argue that the connection to politically appointed bodies makes the issue sensitive. If the bill passes, the authorities’ decisions could have a direct impact on which content reaches users on social media.