Luxembourg Proposes Sweeping Overhaul of Media Law to Include Influencers and Podcasters

Modernizing Luxembourg's Media Landscape

Luxembourg is embarking on a significant reform of its media legislation, with a newly proposed draft law set to extend regulatory oversight to a broader spectrum of content creators, including the written press, influencers, and podcasters. The initiative, presented on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, by Minister Delegate for Media, Elisabeth Margue, marks a comprehensive update to the country's media law, which has remained largely unchanged since 1991 and primarily governed audiovisual media like radio and television.

Minister Margue emphasized that the overhaul is a necessary response to a 'radically changed media landscape,' asserting that it is 'logical' for the same fundamental rules to apply to content, irrespective of whether it is published on television, in a newspaper, or online. This move acknowledges the growing influence of social media content creators in shaping public opinion.

Expanded Scope and New Regulatory Body

Under the proposed legislation, the current regulatory body, ALIA (Autorité Luxembourgeoise Indépendante de l'Audiovisuel), will undergo a transformation. It is slated to be renamed the Luxembourg Independent Media Authority (ALIM), with its responsibilities significantly expanded to oversee the written press, influencers, and podcasters. To manage this broader mandate, ALIM is expected to receive an increase in staffing. The new authority will be tasked with defining specific criteria, such as a certain level of recognition or audience reach, to determine which influencers fall under the purview of the law.

Context of Broader Media Reforms

This media law overhaul is part of a series of reforms aimed at strengthening Luxembourg's media environment. In July 2024, a separate but related reform introduced a legal right of access to information for professional journalists, a long-standing demand from the Press Council. This amendment also sought to align the national legal framework with the Council of Europe's Convention on Access to Official Documents (the Tromsø Convention). Furthermore, the Law of 30 July 2021 on an aid scheme to promote professional journalism was adapted, following positive feedback from stakeholders.

The 2021 press aid reform itself represented a significant shift, moving from a subsidy model based on printed pages to one that provides an annual grant of €30,000 per professional journalist working in a newsroom. This earlier reform also expanded eligibility to include digital media, start-ups, and media publishing in languages spoken by at least 15% of the country's population, such as English.

Ensuring Fundamental Rights in a Digital Age

Minister Margue has consistently highlighted the importance of a technology-neutral legal framework that safeguards fundamental rights. She stated that 'The principles of human dignity, freedom of expression, transparency and the protection of consumers and children must be respected regardless of how content is distributed.' This comprehensive approach underscores Luxembourg's commitment to adapting its legal infrastructure to the complexities of the modern information landscape while upholding democratic values and media pluralism.